Scrollers Preview - Parashat Balak

Scrollers Preview Parashat Balak Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg July 7, 2012 This week we mostly take a break from the Israelites’ constant misbehavior, although it returns with a vengeance at the very end of the parasha. This parasha mostly provides some comic relief, as we get to watch a foreign king and a foreign prophet, Balak and Balaam, make a fools of themselves. Here, we receive some much-needed comfort and assurance, that despite all of our rebellious tendencies, God still wants to bless and protect our People. This message is delivered in the form of what feels like a folk tale or a parody (or both!) Asses speak, prophets are blind, and our enemies cannot help themselves from blessing us. Here is a brief overview of the story: Balak, a king of the Moabites, enemies of the Israelites, sees our people camping out nearby and is frightened by how numerous we are – a horde! He sends for a prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites as a way to weaken them and assure the Moabites victory in battle. God (our God, YHVH) tells Balaam that he will only be allowed to speak the words that God puts in his mouth. Then we have a delightful scene with Balaam and his she-ass. The ass sees an angel with a sword standing in the way, but Balaam can’t see it. The ass swerves three times, Balaam beats her, and finally the ass actually speaks. She berates him for beating up on him. God then opens Balaam’s eyes, and he understands the ass’ behavior. The climax of this episode is a series of attempts by Balaam to curse Israel. Each time Balak brings Balaam to a new vantage point to view Israel from a different angle; each time Balak offers up very expensive burnt offerings; and each time, Balaam pronounces blessings instead of curses. Balak and Balaam then go their separate ways. The parashah ends with a theme which continues next week – that of the Israelites whoring after the Moabite women and their gods. Here we go again, rebelling…that comic relief didn’t last too long. On these beautiful days of summer, I feel especially a sense of grace – that I’m being blessed whether or not I deserve it. Perhaps we can simply enjoy this humorous story this week. And we can ask whether this story is here to introduce a sense of God’s compassion in the midst of the predominantly harsh episodes of the wilderness.