Our Parsha this Shabbos is 'Parshas Balak,' where Balak the son of Tzippor calls Bilaam to come and curse our people but HaShem turns it into a Blessing.
Balak is called the son of Tzippor also because he would use the tongues of birds he'd kill to pronounce future events (tzippor meaning bird).Certainly not a nice man.The Children of Israel had just defeated the Amorites and the Moabites became frightened that they were next.They saw that HaShem was with us and so they called an evil man Bilaam to come and curse us (Chas Ve Shalom).But they knew that we were a Holy people to HaShem and they needed to find some negativity within us so that HaShem would be upset enough to allow us to be cursed (Chas Ve Shalom). This is why Bilaam kept moving around to different parts of viewing Israel each time hoping to find some error within us.but we were a Holy people who had such modesty that even within our tribes in the Wilderness,our tent openings never faced our neighbor's tent opening -as Torah says in Numbers 24:5 (that we say at Shacharit Davening) , 'How goodly are your tents,O Jacob,your dwelling places,O Israel.' We were a people of Holy Purity.So Bilaam (who was known for cursing as he knew the time of day that the sun would wane), was not able to curse us.Each time ,Bilaam (prophet of the nations that HaShem showed the nations they were also given a chance at a prophet) was stopped at every attempt to hurt us and HaShem ,Who rules over all, saw to it that our enemy Blessed us.
Our people have always been a people of Tznius and Holy purity and this among other things protects us from those who wish to spiritually seek us harm (Chas Ve Shalom).
HaShem told us in Torah that we are a 'Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation,' a treasured people of Holy purity to HaShem.We ,as a people are to always ensure we live up to this and seek always the way of Holiness and love of HaShem in faithfulness and Kedusha.We are a people,separate and with our own special task in this world to be a light unto all and teach and bring all to the belief in One G-D.This is a task set for us by HaShem,to remain as separate teachers of light .This is not an action of our own lack of humility.It is an action HaShem set for us,so that we can be a light-house for HaShem for all ,as HaShem loves all.
The actions of Balak and Bilaam are akin to so many others through time who have tried to hurt us and failed.As long as we keep to who we are and within the task that HaShem has set for us and as long as we keep HaShem's Holy Torah,we will have the blessing of HaShem over us.We thus need to keep our Torah and all that HaShem instructed of us,never leaving Torah-the Precious Gift and never easing on HaShem's Laws,for to do that, is to lesson on HaShem's Commandments.The Torah as it was given on Sinai is for all time and not a single letter and not a single Law should ever be changed from it because of modern times(Chas Ve Shalom), as HaShem is for all time and so is the eternity of His Will. A Jew who sadly leaves the faith or marries out of the faith and religion of Yiddishkeit (Chas Ve Shalom), is lost to Yiddishkeit and all that Jew's generations of struggle and faithfulness to HaShem is lost (Chas Ve Shalom).So a Jew must ,for HaShem's sake and for the sake of all those who died through the centuries so that they could be a Jew,must keep this in mind and never give up on the precious gift that HaShem has given them.
This is what the Bilaams and Balaks of the world try to do.So we need to keep ourselves Holy and pure to who HaShem lovingly made us.
The first verse of this Parsha says,' Vayar Balak ben Tzippor Eit kol asher Asah Yisrael La'Emori,' which means ,' Balak son of Tzippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite.' These Hebrew words can have other meanings hidden within.Taking each word and using the beauty of Hebrew translations,it can also possibly say 'And feared(Vayar) ,Balak son of a bird (one who wants to see more but can only see physically),feared (Vayar) all that HaShem for Israel did to 'Emori' (from the root 'amar'-which means spoke) to all that spoke against. Israel.' So Balak feared that all who speak against Israel will be dealt with by HaShem.HaShem puts His protective wings around Israel and as HaShem assured Avraham,'All those who Bless Israel will be Blessed and all those who curse Israel will be cursed.'As what happened to Balak and Bilaam that HaShem foiled their plans,so will HaShem foil the plans of all who want to hurt the Jewish People.
May we continue to be a Holy Nation unto HaShem,of purity and May HaShem continue to watch over our people always.
I wish HaShem with beautiful love, a Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love.