CHOCHMAS NASHIM: BALAK: USE YOUR WORDS
By: Suri Stern
“When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.” -Golda Meir
Amalek came with munition, a tired post-slave nation, Israel, defeated them.
Amon and Moab wouldn’t give us bread and water, we had Manna in the desert.
How do we defeat Israel, wondered Balak, by cursing them when they are being judged by G-d. Using words. Where do we see the strength of words? When Jacob tricked Isaac to receive the blessing of the elder son when Esau was out hunting. Jacob tricked Isaac by placing fur on this arms so that if he was touched by Isaac, Isaac would think he was hairy Esau. So it was, when Jacob served Isaac his meal and asked for a blessing, Isaac reached out to feel Jacob and pronounced the famous statement “hakol, kol Yaakov, v’hayadayim, yidei Esau/The voice is the voice of Jacob and the hands are those of Esau, how prescient that would become for eternity.
Esau would have his might in his hands as a hunter, and Jacob would have his strength in his voice, his language. We Jews are not naturally warriors, not in our nature. Our strength lies in our wisdom/language as Maimonides writes that Adam Midaber/man speaks, i.e., man thinks, man is rational and is capable of rational communication.
When Balak asks Bilaam, indeed repeatedly begs Bilaam to curse the Jews, Bilaam replies, Mah Ekov, lo kabo Kel/how can I curse that who is not cursed by G-d. Ekovis to curse, Yaakov was so named because he grabbed a hold of Esau’s heel in a desire to be born first and get the blessing of the elder son. One might see that the heel of the foot is its lowest point, similar to a curse, a low point in language, as if to say I Bilaam cannot use curse words in the face of Yaakov’s voice used for learning and davening.
Just this morning the Champlain Towers in Surfside Florida collapsed with tens of Jewish people missing. We need to raise our voices in supplication requesting of G-d that they be found, and those whose lives are in danger should have a speedy recovery. Our words are our strength, as we turn to HKBH/G-d for redemption. As word of help pouring into Florida from all over the state and country, we watch our brethren organize comfort centers, food and shelter, as this cursed event turns into an opportunity to use Bilaam’s words Mah Tovu Ohalechah yaakov, mishkinotechah yisrael/How good are your tents Jacob, your temples Yisrael. When we join together helping our brothers and neighbors through this tragedy, G-d sees how we pull together as one to comfort and care for our brethren.
This Sunday is the 17th of Tammuz, we have to use our prayers to remind G-d that we are one nation watching over each other, as we redouble our efforts in prayers and acts of kindness to bring Moshiach speedily in our days.
Meaningful fast.
Shabbat shalom.
Suri