Hertz p.668
Soncino p.915
Shabbat ends in London at 10.25pm
The Fast of Tammuz will commence at 1.05am on Tuesday and conclude at 10.17pm
| Sidra Lite | |
| Sidra Insights | Rabbi Hershel Rader |
| Pidyon Haben | Rabbi Daniel Roselaar |
| Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein | Rabbi Dr Michael Harris |
| 14th Tammuz | Rabbi Yisroel Fine |
| Israel A - Z, J - Jabotinsky | Simon Goulden |
| Riddle of the Week | Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis |
| BALAK describes how King Balak of Moab hired the services of the heathen prophet Bilam to curse the Israelites, thereby seeking their destruction. Despite his evil intentions, Bilam blessed the people. This is followed by the sin of Baal Peor. |
Very few Parshiot of the Torah bear the names of individuals. It may, therefore, seem surprising that this Parsha is named after Balak, a wicked individual who sought to destroy our people. In fact the Midrash describes Balak as hating us more than any other enemy. The Talmud (Yoma 38b) instructs us not to name our children after the wicked. So, why should an entire section of the Torah be named after someone like Balak.
Our Parsha deals, essentially, with one topic; Balak's abortive attempt to bring about the downfall of the Children of Israel. Not only was he thwarted, but he accomplished precisely the opposite; instead of cursing the Israelites, the heathen prophet Bilaam uttered divine prophecies containing the most profound blessings. Like in the story of Purim, a great enemy's wicked designs were 'turned about', from potential 'darkness' to actual 'light'. We can, therefore, say that the name Balak focuses our attention on the essence of our Parsha: Hashem's protection of us against our enemies which converts disaster into triumph. In a perverse way Balak is the unwitting hero of our Parsha, who, despite his evil intent, brought great blessing upon our people.
This concept manifests itself in Bilaam's fourth prophecy, which Maimonides in his Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Melachim 11.1) tells us refers to the Messianic era. The Messiah will be a descendant of King David, and through Ruth, originally a Moabitess, a descendant of Balak. The potential for ultimate good in even the most dire and seemingly evil situation is thereby highlighted. It is interesting to note that there is another Parsha named after someone noted for his misdeeds- Korach. Once again, despite Korach's own rebelliousness, his sons were quite different to their father and are famous as the authors of some of the Psalms. The names of both Parshiot teach us to be aware of the potential for eventual good in everyone.
There is another aspect of Balak which becomes apparent when contrasting him with the other main character of the Parsha-Bilaam. Bilaam is a 'trickster', a dishonest person. He knows what is right but is quite happy to do wrong. He will say one thing and do exactly the opposite. Bilaam, although aware of G-d's opposition to his cursing the Israelites, does not flatly refuse the overtures of Balak's messengers. On the contrary, he invites them to stay overnight and when permission is denied and other messengers return with promises of greater wealth he hopes that G-d will allow him to go with them in order to satiate his greed. In contrast, Balak is no hypocrite, playing both sides against the middle for personal gain, but is, at least, honest about his intent. Honesty, even in an enemy, is a virtue.
May the Almighty protect us from all our enemies, both declared and undeclared, and may their evil designs be turned to ultimate good.
Pidyon Haben
The Torah states that all firstborn children who are boys initially "belong" to G-d. This is because the Israelite firstborn were spared when the Egyptian firstborn were killed prior to the Exodus from Egypt. A father must therefore "redeem" a firstborn son by paying a "ransom" to a Cohen. This mitzvah is known as Pidyon Haben.
A baby boy who is not his mother's firstborn child need not be redeemed - even if he is his father's firstborn. Conversely, if he is his mother's firstborn but not his father's, he must still be redeemed. If the child is a Cohen or a Levi - or even if his mother is the daughter of a Cohen or a Levi - he also does not need to be redeemed.
In the event that the Pidyon Haben cannot be done by the child's father, either because he is dead or because he is not-Jewish, there is a difference of halachic opinions regarding what should be done. According to one view the child's grandfather or the local Beth Din should redeem him (Shach), whereas according to another view the child should be instructed to redeem himself when he becomes a barmitzvah (Taz). R' Moshe Feinstein ruled in accordance with the former view.
A Pidyon Haben is not required if the child was born by caesarean section, nor if it was a forceps assisted delivery. Likewise, there is no Pidyon Haben if the mother previously miscarried (though in both the latter cases Rabbinic guidance should be sought).
RABBI BARUCH HALEVI EPSTEIN
Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein was born in Bobruisk, Russia in 1860 and died in 1942.
R. Baruch received his early Torah education from his illustrious father, Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein, Rabbi of Novorodak and author of the classic halachic work Aruch HaShulchan. R. Baruch was a brilliant student blessed with a phenomenal memory, and he continued his studies under his famous uncle, the Netziv of Volozhin (discussed in this column in Daf HaShavua vol 16 no. 37).
R. Baruch declined to accept prestigious Rabbinical positions in Pinsk, Moscow and Petrograd, working instead as a banker and devoting all his spare time to his studies and writing.
His best-known work is his Torah Temimah, an immensely popular Torah commentary. This work compiles quotations from Rabbinic literature, arranging them according to the Torah verse to which they refer. R. Baruch then offers an analysis of how the Rabbinic interpretations are derived from the biblical text.
R. Baruch also wrote his memoirs, Mekor Baruch; Tosefot Beracha on the Chumash; and Baruch She'amar on the liturgy.
14th Tammuz
It was on this day during the reign of Queen Salome Alexandra, 76 to 67 BCE that the Sadducean Code was abolished by Rabbi Shimon Ben Shetach. The leadership of the Pharisees embracing traditional Judaism and the Oral Law was thus re-established.
The Sadducees, or Zadokim, emerged as a sect about 200 BCE. Their leader Zadok (from which they took their name) was a pupil of Antignos of Sokho, who deviated from his teacher's path by denying the after life, resurrection and the validity of the Oral Law, unless the latter's ruling derived directly from the written Torah.
It was during the reigns of John Hircanus and Salome's husband Alexander Yannai that the Sadducees dominated the Sanhedrin. Mercilessly persecuted by Yannai, the Pharisees fled to Egypt only to return through a reconciliation between their leader Shimon Ben Shetach and Yannai, effected by Salome their respective sister and wife.
As Nasi (President of the Sanhedrin), Rabbi Shimon was accredited with the institution of the written Ketubah, and pioneered a Torah school system in Jerusalem and the district towns, obliging parents to send their children to them.
He restored the Temple Priesthood and administration to the control of the Pharisees, who reinvigorated the people spiritually and ushered in a period of peace and prosperity. Upon his death in 68 BCE his life was eulogised as a period when "rain fell, wheat came up as large as kidneys and barley as olive stones" (Ta'anit 23a).
J - Jabotinsky
One of the most influential and controversial figures in early Zionism, Vladimir (Ze'ev) Jabotinsky, was born in Russia in 1880. He served as the Rome correspondent for Odessa newspapers under the pen-name of "Altalena", when just 18. Beginning his Zionist activities in Russia in 1903,he was a dynamic orator, advocating the formation of the Zion Mule Corps in World War 1 and serving in one of the Jewish battalions in 1917.
For organising Jewish self defence in Jerusalem he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by the British, but was soon reprieved. Joining the Zionist Executive in 1921, he resigned after two years accusing them of not opposing the British with sufficient vigour. He then formed the 'World Union of Zionist Revisionists' and its Youth wing "Brit Trumpledor"- Betar. Realising the situation in eastern Europe in the 1930s, he advocated speedy evacuation to Palestine. He formed an underground fighting force, the Irgun Tzevai Leumi and, when World War II broke out, he once again advocated the formation of a Jewish Army.
He translated Russian, Italian and English literature and poetry into Hebrew, wrote novels and non fiction in Hebrew and English. He died in 1940 and was reburied in 1964 on Mt Herzl.
Last week's questions:
1. What do Beshalach, Ha'-azinu and the Seventh Day of Pesach have in common?
Answer:
Their Haftarot are songs from the Prophets.
2) EXTRA CHALLENGE
Explain: From the Book of Bemidbar we learn that 5=7.
Answer:
According to some, the two verses of Bemidbar 10:35-36 are to be considered as a separate book of the Torah. Thus, the Five Books of Moses have a total of Seven Books of the Torah.
This week's question:
1. Concerning two men, the Torah tells us, "he rose up in the morning and saddled his ass".
One was Bilam (Bemidbar 22:21). Who was the other?
2) EXTRA CHALLENGE
Where in Parshat Balak do we find a reference to Pesach, Shavuot & Succot?
|