Balak
When one attempts to curse a blessed entity, the blessed remains blessed and the cursed remains cursed.
Balak, a Moabite king, hires Balaam, a wizard par-excellence, on retainer to curse the Jewish people. Balaam’s ride, his donkey, tells him that going down this path is not a very good idea. Three times, the prophet Balaam tries to curse the people, and three times he ends up blessing them. Some of the deepest prophecies and blessings, like the coming of the redemption, are issued from Balaam’s mouth. The Israelites are enticed by the daughters of Moab, idolizing immoral impurities. Pinchas slays a statesmen who publicly undermined the Jewish people and their purpose.
Gastronomic Universe
Physical & spiritual pleasures: In Parshat Balak the Jews faced the plague of Pe’or – they encountered the cosmic digestive system & the energy of waste.
Read MoreOn Feats and Feet
The difference between an ‘intellectual’ and a ‘server’ is the difference between being impressive & getting somewhere, according to the Rebbe Rashab.
Read MoreOne-Liners On Truth and Falsehood
Words of wisdom by three great Rabbis: Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin, the Maggid of Kelm and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch on the topic of lying and stealing.
Read MoreDo You Like to Gossip?
Discover how our attraction to gossip can teach us volumes about our lives and our personalities. Learn to channel curiosity into a revolution for good.
Read MoreAccommodations
A story of the Baal Shem Tov on one of his travels who would rather be a guest in the home of a sinner than in the home of a learned, yet egotistical person
Read MoreBalak: The Ultimate Stand
A personal story of 2 events on the same day in 1927 and 1967 that shaped the spiritual commitment to Jewish life and history revealing G-d’s Divine plan.
Read MoreChukat-Balak: Wealth Question
The value and significance of questions, opinions and feedback; and the time-old question whether parents should bequeath their wealth to their children.
Read MoreBalak: The Secret to Immortality
In one verse in Parshat Balak “Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the seed of Israel?” the prophet Balaam tells us the secret of immortality
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