VOLUME 116 NUMBER 7
Tamuz 15, 5785
July 11, 2025
Parshas Balak
Candlelighting Time 8:11
Bilaam was forced to bless our nation and although the Talmud clearly states that his blessings did not come to fruition, however its worthwhile to examine what highlights of our nation he did say because they are all true. He declared that those who bless us will in turn merit blessing and those who curse us will indeed eventually become tormented. What is the nature of this blessing that Bilaam attempted to bestow upon us? Nachmonides explains that actually this verse is a continuation of the previous ones. There Bilaam stated that the dwellings of the nation will be temporary shelters until they enter into the land of Israel and build stronger and more secure homes. However, this does not discount that their present lodgings lacked strength. On the contrary, they were also secure and safeguarded.
Additionally, the land of Israel was also abounding with only wonderful and terrific supplies for the nation. The land was always to remain fertile and the reservoirs of water would always be plentiful and available. In this explanation of Nachmonides all the previous positive wishes of Bilaam are inclusive.
Our archenemy Amalek will be defeated because they had the audacity to attack us and attempt to foil our plans of prominence and excellence. And with their defeat, our nation’s grandeur of kingship will be appreciated and consummated. Distinguished and formidable rulers will come from our nation and they will rout and conquer those enemies that surround us and threaten our security.
With the rise of our splendor and majesty we will not just defeat our enemies but we will actually obliterate them and annihilate their forces so that there will be no enduring remembrance of their existence. We will not fear any opposing nation and therefore we will live in total peace and serenity. This is the blessing that we can look forward to eventually as we draw closer and we are on the verge of the climax of our civilization.
Perhaps one might be inclined to question is this the purpose of our kingship to destroy other civilizations and kill conceivably hundreds if not thousands of people? We must understand that the stance we take against our enemies although there is a physical reality to undermining their existence it is based upon their deficiencies and inadequacies due to their imperfect character traits that are diametrically opposed to our value system, the Torah. We are not by nature violent and brutal but as an example our destruction of Amalek is certainly an indication of our mission which is to eradicate those countries and peoples that stand in the way of recognition of Hashem and the Torah.
This then is the true blessing that we will merit as those opposing forces are reduced to rubble and awareness of Hashem and Torah reign supreme. And precisely since Bilaam predicted this did Balak trounce him and banish him from his country because he prophesized the eventual downfall of his people. And that of course was the antithesis of Balak’s entire motivation which was to stop our nation dead in its tracks and not allow our star to continue to rise and become every stronger and more powerful.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
When a Jewish person faces a challenge he approaches a Tzaddik for a blessing that nothing adverse should befall him. However, by the nations of the world when they encounter a difficult situation instead of asking for a blessing they request that the Jewish people should be cursed and destroyed.
CHAFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABB0S
