Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

Balaam should have realized that he was on the wrong path when his donkey started talking to him. But he was so determined to curse the Jews that he missed the obvious.

While Balak and Balaam are making their plans to destroy the Jews, the Jews are unaware what is happening. That is because they are under God’s protection.

Why would Balak hate the Jews when they did nothing to him, and would only help? His hatred of what the Jews represent is the answer. He would rather be destroyed than be moral.

This week’s portion ends with the attack on the Jews by Amalek. The question is why the hatred. The answer is that they do not hate the Jews as much as what the Jews represent, morality.

Amalek attacks when he perceives the Jews to be divided and weak. This is true throughout history. Evil does not strike when we are united and strong. They know that they cannot defeat us when we are united in our mission.

Moses’s reaction to the complaints of the lack of water have to be viewed in the context of his losing his sister. The sin of the people was not recognizing that pain he was going through at the time.

When Miriam dies the people realize that the well was there in her honor. She does her job never asking for acknowledgement. She just does what is necessary.

Moses’s mistake in hitting the rock was understandable but he forgot that he was the leader and the leader is always on duty. He cannot take a break from being the leader.

The commandment of the Red Heifer does not make sense. But this teaches us to obey the commandments even when they do not make sense to us. When taken in total they do make sense.

The rebellion of Korah and his squad was a rebellion of the elites against the leadership of Moses. They based their arguments on a falsehood. This teaches us that sometimes the elites are dangerous.