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"Come now therefore I pray thee, curse me this people, for they are too mighty for me...." (Numbers 22:6) Who among us wouldn't like to think of himself as someone with a good eye, a humble spirit and ...

Parashat Balak that we read this week tells how, after witnessing the overwhelming victory of the people of Israel over the Amorites, Balak, the king of Moab, was afraid that he and his people would ...

God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor the king of Moab has sent [them] to me, [saying], ‘Behold the people coming out of Egypt, a ...

Do not be like Balaam, who believed in a God devoid of values. Believe only in a God who demands we behave morally! Parashat Balak centers on two personalities, one a king and the other a mysterious ...

The challenge facing Balaam in this week’s Torah portion was formidable. He was tasked with cursing the Jewish people, but was committed to delivering whatever message God was planning to send. As the ...

What does God require of us? He demands – and this is a firm demand, not a polite request – that we be good: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. This week’s Torah portion ...

There is a clear parallel between Balak and events in the Book of Exodus. In both narratives, kings (Pharaoh of Egypt and Balak of Moab), alarmed about the success of the Jewish People, conspire to ...

Does Balaam’s donkey mock him? She disagrees with his plan. She holds fast to her perception of the danger before them. She disobeys his order. These actions do not amount to mockery. Rashi says ...