(link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak And balaam went with balak And they came to the village of huzoth (streets). (Bemidbar 22:39)   Kiriat Huzoth – A city full of markets, men women and children in its street, so as to say "See, and have pity that these not be uprooted".  (Rashi ibid., ibid.)   And Balaam went etc. – meaning to indicate that he did not treat him with respect, but rather that Balak went ahead and he followed, therefore it does not say ‘and Balak and...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak How goodly are your tents, o Jacob, Your dwellings, o Israel! (Bemidbar 24:4)   How goodly are your tents, O Jacob – Two tents of Jacob's multitude. These are tents of men and tents of women. Your dwelling, O Israel – 'Dwelling' is the gathering of the people's leadership which exits in two forms; the assembly of those appointed to deal with public needs in worldly matters, and the gathering of the great scholars of Israel...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling by its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon him… How fair are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwellings, O Yisrael! (Bemidbar 24:5)   Your dwellings  – How fair are they even when they are in ruins because then they are a pledge for you , and the fact that they are in...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! (Bamidbar 24:5)   The Mishkan as Mashkon On the day that Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle (Bamidbar 7:1): This relates to that which is written: How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! (24: 5) If your tents, why your dwellings, and if your dwellings, your tents? Rather, how fair are...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! (Bamidbar 24:5)   Your dwelling places : even when they are desolate, for they are held as a pledge for you, and their desolate state atones for your souls, as it says, The Lord has spent His fury (Lamentations 4:11). How did He spend it? He has kindled a fire in Zion. (Rashi Bamidbar 24:5, Judaica Press translation)   It is written, A...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak THE LORD PLACED SOMETHING INTO BALAAM'S MOUTH, AND HE SAID, "RETURN TO BALAK AND SAY AS FOLLOWS." BALAAM RAISED HIS EYES AND SAW ISRAEL DWELLING ACCORDING TO ITS TRIBES, AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD RESTED UPON HIM… HOW GOODLY ARE YOUR TENTS, O JACOB, YOUR DWELLING PLACES, O ISRAEL!   A Curse into a Blessing or a Blessing into a Curse? Love and Hate. And the Lord put a thing in the mouth of Balaam. R....

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak THE LORD OPENED THE MOUTH OF THE SHE-DONKEY, AND SHE SAID TO BALAAM, "WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU THAT YOU HAVE STRUCK ME THESE THREE TIMES?" BALAAM SAID TO THE SHE-DONKEY, "FOR YOU HAVE HUMILIATED ME; IF I HAD A SWORD IN MY HAND, I WOULD KILL YOU RIGHT NOW." (Bamidbar 22:28-9)   The Lord opened the mouth of the she-donkey – to speak, since Scripture often alludes to speech and the pronouncing...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak IN THE MORNING BALAK TOOK BALAAM UP TO BAMOT-BAAL. FROM THERE HE COULD SEE A PORTION OF THE PEOPLE. (Bamidbar 22:41)   What You See from Here, You Cannot See from There …and Scripture tells us that he did not see the entire camp, since they were encamped by four flags at the four directions of the winds. On the second attempt Balak told him you will see only a portion of them,...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Balak HOW FAIR ARE YOUR TENTS, O JACOB, YOUR DWELLINGS, O ISRAEL! (Bamidbar 24:5)   Your dwellings – How fair are they even when they are in ruins because then they are a pledge for you, and the fact that they are in ruins is an atonement for your souls, as it is said, The Lord has brought His fury to an end (Eikha 4:11). And by what means has He brought it...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Balak HE TOOK UP HIS THEME AND SAID: FROM ARAM HAS BALAK BROUGHT ME, MOAB'S KINGFROM THE HILLS OF THE EAST: COME, CURSE ME JACOB, COME, TELL ISRAEL'S DOOM! HOW CAN I DAMN WHOM GOD HAS NOT DAMNED, HOW DOOM WHEN THE LORD HAS NOT DOOMED? AS I SEE THEM FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS, GAZE ON THEM FROM THE HEIGHTS, THERE IS A PEOPLE THAT DWELLS APART, NOT RECKONED AMONG THE NATIONS. (Bamidbar 23: 7-9)...