Blessings Blowing in the Wind

The original Iron Dome was deployed to shield the Jewish People from deadly curses hurled upon them by a powerful prophet named Bil’am some 3,300 years ago. This protective device utilized a capability so sophisticated that it not only blocked the curses from falling upon and destroying innocent Jews, it transformed ugly ideas into beautiful blessings which settled gently upon the Jewish People, fortifying them and enabling them to pursue their national mission unimpeded.

There were no loud and bright explosions in the sky upon interception of those curses. There was no deadly debris that dropped upon the innocent. Rather, newly-born blessings drifted down quietly upon the people. So soundlessly did this episode transpire that the nation was oblivious to the intended attack and unaware that rather than facing annihilation they were facing their future newly infused with spiritual favor and physical prowess. A People lovingly chosen also became a People uniquely blessed.

The enigmatic off-camera clash with Bil’am as described in our Torah is meant to illustrate the covenantal relationship between the Jewish People and our God who is ever-watchful, sheltering us from enemies known, and in this spectacular case, enemies that, absent this account in the Torah, we would never have known. And, of course, when we read this as a global Jewish People on this Shabbat, that will be the clearly intended take-away.

I also take away something else.

In the course of our lives, knowingly or unintentionally, we hurt people. They may throw curses our way, and we may never know it. But we also meet people who uplift us. They may not be aware of how much their interactions with us, perhaps fleeting, perhaps long ago, have inspired us to be better people. We think of them with affection and wish them well, and they may never know it.

God’s intervention with Bil’am comforts us because although we entered into a situation unaware of the threat, we also emerged unaware of the blessings. That defining experience allows us to believe that just as we recall some people and wish them well without their knowing it, there may be people who are picturing us, caring for us, sending blessings to us, and we do not know it. People whose blessings silently descend upon us, strengthen us, and, in ways we cannot see, carry us gently toward becoming who we truly wish to be.