Parsha Balak
Numbers 22:2–25:9
By Jen Smith, Guest Torah Blogger
In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, the king of Moab (for whom this portion is named), hires the prophet, Balaam, to curse the Israelites. Balak is willing to pay a substantial sum for the curse, assuming the payment would be motivation enough, even when Balaam reminds the king that he will only be able to issue a curse if it is the true will of God. Nevertheless, the prophet gives it a shot. Balaam gazes upon the Israelite’s camp, and he is compelled to speak the truth! Instead of curses, Balaam proclaims: Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov, Mishkenotecha Yisrael! (How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!)
The Israelites, having witnessed God’s miracles, created an encampment imbued with a divine spirit. Despite the harsh realities of desert living, there was an undeniable sense of “chosen-ness” that began to fill the camp with confidence and hope. But what exactly made the Israelite’s camp a makom kadosh, a holy space? Perhaps it was the visceral beauty of the vast desert, or perhaps it became beautiful as the Israelite’s began to trust God on their journey. As someone who feels very strongly about the look and feel of the space around me, I can’t help but ponder: are holy spaces defined by their environment, or by the actions of those who dwell within? While the evolutionary the origins may remain mysterious, in our modern ago we tend recognize the holiness of a space when we feel most open to God’s presence – when we feel God, a holy space becomes immediately more accessible.
In Talmud Tractate Berachot (Blessings), there is a conversation recorded between Rabbi Yose and Elijah the Prophet. Rabbi Yose entered the ruins of a synagogue to pray. During their discussion, Elijah shares God’s reaction when Jews gather in a synagogue to say the Baruchu. Elijah reveals that God “shook His head and said: Happy is the King who is praised in this house!” The key message is that when Jews come together as a community to learn or pray, God always joins them, transforming the place into a holy space.
That is the magic: when we are kind, truthful and sincere in our interactions with others, we create the ideal conditions for God to dwell among us. Here at TBA, whether through cheerful morning greetings, laughter in the hallways, or the way we feel when we pray together – we needn’t look far to feel the presence of the Divine around us.
When Balaam surveyed the Israelite camp, he obviously saw past the linen tents of former slaves. He saw through to the core truth – that the Israelite’s were living the values they received together at Mt. Sinai, and basking in God’s divine light as a result. Their actions transformed an ordinary space into a makom kadosh. When we strive to better connect with each other, we can’t help but strengthen our connection to the Divine too.
Shabbat Shalom!