Chazak, Chazak, V'nitchazeik
Here in the week of the Fourth of July, we come to the end of this year's reading of B'midbar with a double portion, Matot/Mas-ei.
Learning to Hear Balaam's Ass
From a thoughtful reading of the story of Balaam's ass (Num. 22:27-32), we recognize that the question posed is not "How can an ass speak?" but "How can we become like Balaam, able to hear what the world has to say to us?"
Drinking from the River of Holiness
In this week's Torah portion we read the unusual story of Balaam, the mysterious and renowned sorcerer-for-hire commissioned by a fearful Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Children of Israel during their trek through the desert.
No Rest(s) for the Wicked
According to the Rabbis, Balaam was one of seven non-Israelite prophets. (One list also includes Balaam's father, as well as Job and the four friends who came to "comfort" him.
Balaam’s Talking Ass
The parashah for this Shabbat is a fundamentalist’s nightmare. This week we read the lollapalooza granddaddy of all the off-the-wall Bible stories. It’s so preposterous it makes splitting the Red Sea look like child’s play.
Balak: Is the Ass a Prophet or is the Prophet an Ass?
The absurd image of Balaam's donkey turning around and berating her master for thrice beating her makes this portion memorable. We learn that in so doing, the donkey is merely trying to save her own life:
Lost Stories
"They set out from Rithmah and encamped at Rimmon-perez." (Num. 33:19) This is one stage on the list of forty-two such encampments described in the parashah that outlines our people's journey from slavery to freedom. What is the use of this list?
Advice from a Father-in-Law
There is, in Pirke Avot,1 the teaching of a rabbi named Ben Bag Bag. He said:
Hafoch bah, vahafoch bah, d'chola bah, "Turn it and turn it, over and over, for everything is in it."
Rules and Regulations
After the Revelation at Sinai, after the giving of the Ten Commandments, after the thunder and lightning and the mountain covered in a cloud of smoke—what could possibly come next? What could follow that spectacular event?