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Dedicated in memory of Alice Setton

Parshat Balak June 26, 2021 16 Tammuz, 5781
TORAH Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Parshat Balak
ARTSCROLL 856
HERTZ 669 Many questions have only witnesses were Balak, eventually say it – was the
rightly been asked about Bilam, and some Moabite promise He gave to
HAFTORAH the story of Balak and princes. Had the Israelites Abraham: “I will bless those
ARTSCROLL 1189 Bilam and the would-be known the danger they were in, who bless you, and whoever
HERTZ 682 curses that turned into and how they were saved from curses you I will curse”
blessings. Was Bilam a it, it would have given them (Gen. 12:3).
Bar Mitzvah true man of God, or was pause for thought before Who was to be affected by
of he a fraud, a magician, a engaging in immorality and idol this episode? What was the
Justin Ellis sorcerer, a practitioner of worship with the Moabite intended change it was
dark arts? Did he have
women, in the episode that
meant to bring about? Who
Aufruf genuine powers? Was he follows on immediately from the was its target audience? It
really – as some of the
story of Bilam. They would have
of Sages said – the equal of known that the Moabites were did not affect the Moabites.
Jordan Goldman Moses? Was he driven by not their friends. They proceeded to get their
the prospect of reward women to successfully entice
Times and honor from the Even Moses would not have the Israelite men. A plague
Moabites and Midianites, known what happened, had God then struck the Israelites,
Weekly Times or was he motivated by not told him. In short, the taking 24,000 lives. It did
Shacharit: Sunday 8:30 am animosity toward the Israelites were rescued from a not affect the Midianites,
danger they knew nothing
whose hostility to Israel was
Mon. & Thurs. 6:35/7:45 am Israelites and their about by a deliverance they such that God later told
seeming closeness to
Tues., Wed. & Fri. 6:45/7:45 am God? Why did God first knew nothing about. How then Moses: “Treat the Midianites
tell him not to go, then did it, or could it, affect them? as enemies and kill
Mincha 8:15 pm seemingly change His Besides which, why did God them” (Num. 25:17-18).
need Bilam to go at all? He said Several chapters later God
mind and tell him to go?
Shabbat Times What is the meaning of ‘No’ the first time. He could instructed Moses to take
Friday Night 7:00 pm the episode of the talking have said ‘No’ the second time military vengeance against
also. The curses would have
them (Numbers 31). It did
Mincha donkey? Did it really
happen, or was it, as been avoided, Israel would not affect Bilam himself. The
Candle Lighting 8:12 pm have been protected, and there Torah is very subtle about
Maimonides argued, a
Hashkama 8:00 am vision in Bilam’s mind? would have been no need for this. First, we read about the
These are real questions, the angel, the talking donkey Moabite seduction of the
Parsha Shiur 8:30 am and the various locations, Israelites and the deadly
much debated. But there
Main Sanctuary 9:00 am are more fundamental sacrifices, and attempted plague it caused. Then, six
curses. The entire drama seems chapters later, we read that
ones. What is the story
Beit Midrash 9:15 am doing here at all? The to have been unnecessary. Why in the course of the war
Youth Minyan 9:45 am entire episode occurred did God put into Bilam’s mouth against the Midianites, Bilam
was killed (31:8). Then,
the extraordinary poetry that
away from the Israelites.
Gemara Shiur 7:05 pm No one from their side, makes the blessings among the several verses later, “They
most lyrical passages in the
were the ones who followed
Mincha/SS 8:05 pm not even Moses, was Torah. All He really needed Bilam’s advice and enticed
there to witness it. The
Shabbat Ends 9:20 pm Bilam to say – and Bilam did the Israelites to be unfaithful
Latest Times for Kiddush is sponsored by
Shema/Shemoneh Esrei
Janine & Matt Ellis
June 26 9:11/10:26 am
in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Justin
July 3 9:13/10:28 am
Bima Flowers are sponsored by
Next Shabbat
Pinchas Susie & David Goldman
Mincha 7:00 pm in honor of the upcoming marriage
Candle Lighting 8:12 pm of their son Jordan to Stacey Ellenthal