PARSHA POSTS: BALAK

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Aug 2, 2024, 6:10 PM

When Your Dreams Seem to Be Flying Away From You

You Only Fail When You Stop Trying Has your life turned out the way you would have hoped for? Have you created the marriage that you dreamed of? Are your relationships with your kids as impeccable as you swore they’d...

Jul 26, 2024, 7:11 PM

We all should read the ICJ opinion – this week I experienced it

The damage to a warehouse caused by an attack by Jewish settlers from the Homesh settlement in the Palestinian village of Bazariya near Nablus, July 12, 2024. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

The Court described de facto annexation and a failure to extend protections to Palestinian residents. That's exactly what I see.

Jul 26, 2024, 6:21 PM

Parshat Pinchas

In last week's Parsha, we learn about Bilam unsuccessfully trying to curse The Children of Israel. And about Pinchas Killing Zimri the head of the tribe of Shimon and Kozbi the daughter of Balak and stopping the terrible plague...

Jul 26, 2024, 9:34 AM

Our IDF Soldiers Need Pinchas’ Covenant of Peace

“When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons. Peace will come...

Jorde M. Nathan

Jul 22, 2024, 12:03 AM

Balaak and midot tovot

This piece was originally given as a live speech at the Lake Shore Drive Synagogue in Chicago, July 20, 2024. Shabbat Shalom Thank you to this amazing anshe k’nesset and all its leaders for the chizuk and yidishkeit it brings. Particular thanks...

Jul 19, 2024, 6:28 PM

Perhaps all peoples are meant to dwell alone

This week's Torah reading is parshat Balak which contains the infamous prophecies of the wicked non-Jewish prophet, Bilaam. Forced by Hashem against his will, Bilaam bestows many beautiful blessings on the Children of Israel. Among these prophecies, but perhaps more...

Steven Zvi Gleiberman

Jul 19, 2024, 1:37 PM

If Not Going Up, You’re Going Down

Why is getting blessed or getting cursed a zero-sum game? Shouldn’t there be the middle ground of not getting cursed or not getting blessed? The story of Balaam and Balak is most definitely zero sum: either blessings or curses....

Jul 19, 2024, 1:29 PM

‘How Goodly Are Your Tents, Ya’akov’: Parsha Balak

This week, I woke up singing to myself: ma tovu ohalecha ya’akov. And then I had a sudden sweet thought. My paternal grandmother’s name was Tova and her husband’s name was Ya’akov. Strangely enough, I look forward to hearing...

Steven Moskowitz

Jul 19, 2024, 1:26 PM

Real People Provide Real Hope

Praying for the hostages' release and singing for strength at Jerusalem's First Station. (courtesy)

On Sunday, I greeted the Jerusalem morning with news of the assassination attempt against former president Trump. We are grateful that the assassin was unsuccessful, and that President Trump was not seriously injured. We pray for the family of...

Jul 19, 2024, 8:48 AM

What Balaam and Blinken have in common—withholding the facts

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 be next. But instead...

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