Shabbat
Balak - The portion of blessings, rebellion, talking donkeys, and holy vengeance
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- קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
- פורסם ברביעי, 25 נובמבר 2020 08:03
- נכתב על ידי Super User
- כניסות: 323
Balak - The portion of blessings, rebellion, talking donkeys, and holy vengeance
It's a hot week in Israel - in many ways - and we read a Torah Portion I've never understood
Calls over the media for vengeance - coming from talking donkeys (Arab liars who also claimed the killing of a boy a few years ago - who got up and walked in a different video! - and was a libel case against French TV) -
and RAMADAN Riots in the name of Islam (which means "peace" supposedly) - how
fitting for the week of a Torah portion about someone who tries to curse Israel- and is reproached by his donkey
And who is forced by the Almighty to BLESS Israel instead !!
Sometimes what your mind doesn't understand - your heart can understand through music
So today on Israel radio they're playing Rabbi Carlebach's song from the Sabbath Zemirot
"to your Sanctuary return, and the Holy of Holies"
And my friend Rabbi Sholom Brodt of Yeshiva Sinchat Shlomo is explaining the part of the portion that says
"How Goodly are your Tents oh Jacob" (Bilam's blessing in resonse to Balak's request for curses)
teaching that some commentaries say it means the tents of the Israelites
but there is a view that it means the Tent of the Sanctuary in the desert
We sing to the Almighty on Shabbat to return to a state of Sanctuary
and we pray every morning "How goodly are your Tents oh Jacob" as we enter our Temples
And may we learn to forever sing of holiness
to avoid the potential curses and revenge
and to ever enter the tents of holiness - and the holiness of the Sabbath
and may the Balaks and the Bilams disappear - and the world be clear - of any evil
Shabbat Shalom from the land where everyone is TRYING to work out the issues of the world
Rabbi ANdy Eichenholz