TorahParsha

What is self-actualization?

for Parshat Balak

 

i

Balak, king of Moav,

hires the Midianite prophet Bilam

to curse Israel.

*

Balak stands Bilam

at three different vantage-points

from which to see Israel

and then to curse.

*

At the first two vantage-points

God puts a blessing

and not a curse

in Bilaam’s mouth.

*

At the third vantage point,

Bilaam saw

that it is good in HaShem’s eyes

to bless Israel

and he set his face to the Desert 

and he lifted his eyes

and sees Israel

and blesses Israel outright.

 

ii

Balak and Bilam seem to think

that Bilam’s vantage-point

guides God’s words.

So they shift vantage-points

again and again

hoping to conjure God’s curse.

*

But then Bilaam

sees what is good in God’s eyes.

He takes up God’s perspective,

God’s way of seeing.

Then, he can truly speak.

 

iii

You might think:

a religious life

is one of finding your own perspective

then finding God within that point of view.

But who is to say

that your view

is also God’s?

*

Rather:

a religious life

is a life of learning

to see through God’s eyes—

and then sharing what you see.

 

 

 

___

Shabbat Shalom,

Abe

___

Read 2 more pieces on this week’s Parsha and 3 pieces on next week’s Parsha on TorahParsha.com.

Who can speak?

for Parshat Balak

 

i

Bilam’s donkey sees the angel of God.

Frightened animal,

she crouches to keep distance.

Then God opened the donkey’s mouth

and the donkey speaks.

Then Bilam, too, sees the angel.

 

ii

It is someone unquestioning in her vision

a scared animal

with a strong back

who knows only how to carry a load

and how to act on what she sees—

who can do such precise work,

such lifting,

as to carry a holy vision to the world.

It is she

who can truly speak. 

 

 

_____

Shabbat Shalom,

Abe

www.TorahParsha.com

 

Thought for Parshat Balak

What is religion outside community?

i

The prophet Bila’am leaves the land of the children of his people—because Balak, king of Moav, has called upon him.

Balak has called upon Bila’am to come curse Israel.

*

But Bila’am cannot curse Israel.

He can only say the word which God will put in his mouth.

God puts blessing upon blessing toward Israel in Bila’am’s mouth.

 

ii

Finally Bila’am saw that it was good in HaShem’s eyes to bless Israel.

And he saw Israel dwelling tribe by tribe in the Desert.

And the spirit of God was upon him.

*
Bila’am utters:

How good are your tents, o Jacob; your dwellings, o Israel.

And Bila’am returned to his place.

 

iii

Far from the land of the children of his people, a man can utter the word of God.

But only through people dwelling tribe by tribe does the spirit of God rest upon a man.

*
Bila’am realizes this.

And he sees Israel dwelling tribe by tribe.

And the spirit of God was upon him.

And he says: How good are your tents, o Jacob; your dwellings, o Israel.

And Bila’am returned to his place.  

 

 

_______

Shabbat Shalom, Abe

 

___________

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Please continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah, and for Rachel Tovah bat Yehudit Esther, and for James the son of Zelda.