Balak Series

Balak [part 1]

Balak was a king of Moab described in the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible, where his dealings with the prophet Balaam are the main topic.

Religion: Chemosh

Born: Moab

Died: Moab

Parents: Zippor

Partner: Amina

Family: Zippor (father)

Grandchildren: Ruth, Orpah

Children: Eglon

Title: King of Moab

Nationality: Moab

Sometimes the darkest moments bring out the light, and opportunities arise for adversaries to become advocates. This week, in Parashat Balak, we learn about King Balak, who fears the Israelites and decides to have them cursed. Balak was a king of Moab described in the Book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible.

This week, we will learn more about Reform Judaism as we study a little about the Torah portion of the week in about 10 minutes or less. This week, the subject is Parashat Balak, and the question asked is what can

transformation look like—everything from curses to blessings.

This week, we focus our attention on Parashat Balak from the Book of Numbers. It is a remarkable series of interactions. We have the king, Balak, who is, frankly, the king of one of ancient Israel's enemies. Furthermore, he looks out at the Israelites camped out, ready to come into the land. Furthermore, he is petrified. He is afraid of us. Imagine that. Here this group of former slaves wandering through the desert are formidable. They are intimidating. So Balak, in a desperate move, hires an idolatrous soothsayer named Balaam to curse the Israelites. Moreover, as much as Balaam tries, and he tries to go and curse them, it does not turn out. And then finally, in the third revelation, in chapter 24 of Numbers, we have the very famous Mah Tovu. The prayer that now is recited upon entering synagogues is a verse from chapter 24 of Numbers, verse 5, where it says, "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel." Mah tovu ohalekha Ya'akov, mishkenotekha Yisrael. I hope you got that.

And so here is Balaam trying to utter a curse. Moreover, he has a moment where the spirit, the Ruach Elohim, the spirit of God, enters him. Moreover, instead of cursing the Israelites, this very prayer, this blessing. Moreover, amazingly, this is how we start every day in the synagogue. This is the prayer said when we enter a synagogue for morning prayer.

Furthermore, in our new Mishkan T'filah edited by Rabbi Elyse Frishman, we have a fabulous quotation from a traditional prayer manual called Mikdash Me. Moreover, in the notes below, we have Mah Tovu. Moreover, it describes what you are supposed to do. So it says, "When you see the synagogue from a distance, say, how goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel. Upon arriving at the synagogue door, stop momentarily to arrange your clothes properly. Make sure you have put it together." And say the next verse, that is a quotation from Psalms, which you have gathered together to form this prayer. "I, through your abundant love, enter your house." Then the guide tells us, "Then enter with dignity and awe, bowing slightly toward the holy ark. Moreover, say, I bow down in awe at your holy temple. I love your temple abode, the dwelling place of your glory." It then says, "Then walk in a bit. Moreover, bowing again, say, I will humbly bow down before Adonai, my Maker." Then give a little tzedakah, a little charity for the poor, "as much as you can afford.

Moreover, concentrating within yourself, say, here I stand ready and willing to perform the commandment, love your neighbor as yourself. Then you may offer the prayers of the morning—what a beautiful practice upon entering a prayer space. Then you may pursue the love of God."

Rabbi Larry Hoffman, in his fantastic series "My People and the Siddur," reminds us that in ancient prayer, the Mah Tovu and all the pre blessings of

the morning were said by individuals. They were not said by the organized group already gathered for prayer. Moreover, what is impressive to me is that this is a daily reminder that our spiritual job as Jews, as people of faith, is transformation. Not simply obedience. They are not simply doing a series of correct moral and ritual acts. Nevertheless, our job is to transform ourselves and our world.

If you think about this guy Balak, a king who is an archenemy, hiring someone to curse us. Who ends up, according to the Babylonian Talmud, in Tractate Sanhedrin, in 105b, we are told that Balak is the ancestor of Ruth the Moabite, Ruth, the one who chooses Judaism and becomes the great-grandmother of King David. So Balak is the one from whom all these fantastic leaders come forth. What a great spiritual opportunity each day. Furthermore, it reminds us every day to say the words of the one who came to curse us that came out a blessing. How do we turn curses into blessings?