Israel-Gaza War 5784: Balak – No Time for Ambivalence

In this week’s Torah portion, Balak, the king of Moab, terrified by the recent Israelite victories over the Amorites, sends Balaam, a prominent soothsayer, to curse the children of Israel. Three times Balaam attempts to curse them, and each time, only blessings come from his mouth.

Jewish scholars have differed widely in their opinions of the soothsayer Balaam’s character. Some called him Bilam ha-rasha (Balaam the Wicked), while others claimed he was a prophet on a level with Moses, blessing with the most sublime poetry. One verse from Balaam’s third curse-turned-blessing even opens every morning service in Jewish synagogues:

Mah tovu ohalekha Ya’akov, mishkenotekha Yisrael—How good are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel. (Numbers 24:5)

Balaam in our text is indeed an ambiguous character. He seems caught between two masters: the king of Moab, Balak, and G-d, who commands the blessings Balaam cannot help but give. An earthly ruler with great power to either reward or punish on the one hand, and the King of kings who rules over earthly kings on the other. While there can be no doubt as to who will prevail, we are witnesses to Balaam’s struggle.

G-d asks Balaam: “Who are these men with you?” (Numbers 22:9) But of course G-d knows who they are; He does not need Balaam to tell him. He is asking Balaam to consider well what type of men they are, good or evil, for if the latter, Balaam should not honor their request. Balaam hedges, and G-d tells him he may neither go with the emissaries nor curse the people Israel. But Balaam still holds out hope: perhaps G-d will change his mind, or some way around the edict will be found. He tells Balak’s emissaries only that G-d will not allow him to go with them, not that He forbade cursing the Israelites.

Balak then sends a second group of emissaries; perhaps Balaam will go with them. Balaam again prevaricates, hoping that there will somehow be a way to curse Israel and please the king. While he tells the messengers that he can only speak the words that G-d puts in his mouth, he is hoping those words may yet be the curse Balak desires. G-d, seeing that Balaam will not freely choose a righteous path, tells him he may go, but he may only speak the words G-d tells him to speak. And to emphasize the point, when Balaam sets out on his journey, his donkey balks and an angel blocks his way, repeating that he may go but speak only what G-d directs.

After twice blessing the Israelites, despite Balak’s rising anger, Balaam gives the third and final blessing, ending with:

“Who blesses you is blessed, and who curses you is cursed.” (Numbers 24:9)

Since that time, there have been many who cursed Israel. While today Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Hezbollah, and Iran are the most obvious, there are plenty of others. The United Nations has a long history of bias against Israel. Last December, South Africa brought a case accusing Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Several South American countries have either cut ties with Israel or criticized her response to the October 7th attacks. In May, Spain, Norway, and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state, effectively rewarding war crimes and terror.

And even those who claim to bless Israel can end up cursing her. Many of her erstwhile allies have, like Balaam, waffled. Since October 7th, ostensible friends such as the U.K., France, and Germany have alternated between support and condemnation. U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, while frequently and vehemently declaring their support of the Jewish state, have claimed Israel seeks revenge or causes too many civilian casualties. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) warned that pro-Palestinian voters would remember presidential and Congressional support for Israel in November, and Arab-American leaders urged their people to vote “uncommitted” in the Michigan presidential primaries. Subsequently, President Biden held back much-needed arms deliveries to Israel.

The Democratic Party was once the most reliable of supporters for Israel. While members of “the Squad” have never been friendly, prominent Democratic figures such as Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) pivoted from longtime support and rebuked Israel as they bowed to demonstrators on the campuses and in the streets.

Just as G-d asked Balaam, world leaders should ask themselves, “Who are these people?” Who are the people demonstrating on the streets, chanting in the halls of Congress, pontificating at the U.N., slandering Israel—and the Jewish people—among the nations, and judging at the ICJ. Who are they? What are their motivations and their purpose? Good or evil? And leaders should also realize that they cannot both please these people and give Israel deserved support.

Governments and NGOs should take note. While they cannot curse Israel, they can curse themselves by promoting evil and attempting to hinder good. This is no time for the ambivalence of a Balaam.

“Who blesses you—blessed, and who curses you—cursed!”