It Will Require A Change That Hasn't Come Before (Robert Hunter, Jerrry Garcia,& Phil Lesh "St. Stephen")

I realize that we have just completed the first week of July. What does an American do on July 4^th while living in Toronto? I went to work. However I still managed to listen to a baseball game, and watch the fireworks later that evening. During the broadcast of the game, the announcers were already commenting upon the team’s success and whether they will be active at the end of July when Major League Baseball’s trade deadline occurs. The announcer commented upon whether certain players could use a change of scenery in order for them to improve their performance. For the ownership, some players have failed to reach expectations and they assume that a change of scenery will not only help the player but by trading that player, the ownership might get someone who can help the team.

This Shabbat is we read Parsha Balak. In the Parsha we read an interesting narrative that is filled with suspense, humor, intrigue, an apparent “midseason trade” and even a happy ending. It is interesting to note that throughout the Parsha, the focus is upon the outside world as it relates to the Bnai Yisroel. That is to say, Balak, the king of Moav and the tribe of Midian are the subjects of the Parsha. Bnai Yisroel hovers as the main reason for why the narrative is pertinent; however for once, Bnai Yisroel is not doing something wrong, they are not recipients of God’s anger. Instead they placidly and temporarily settled on the plains of Moav waiting to enter into Eretz Canaan. Not until the end of the Parsha and only after the narrative of Balak and Bilaam concluded, does the Torah return to a narrative style with Bnai Yisroel as the subject of poor behavior and God’s anger.

 Bilaam, a soothsayer is hired by Balak to curse Bnai Yisroel. By cursing Bnai Yisroel, Balak believed that this was the only way to defeat Bnai Yisroel since they had successfully waged war on all the indigenous tribes thus far. The donkey that Bilaam rides upon on his way to cursing Bnai Yisroel refuses to respond to Bilaam, Bilaam grows angrier and angrier. The donkey is able to see an Angel of God in the road and Bilaam the soothsayer cannot. So a humorous conversation between Donkey and Soothsayer occurs (this is the funny part). Bilaam eventually realizes that he is unable to curse Bnai Yisroel. Finally when he is looking from the hills down upon Bnai Yisroel and sees a peaceful, God-fearing community he utters praise instead of curses.  Imagine Balak’s anger and frustration? He hires Bilaam to curse B’nai Yisroel, and instead he blesses Bnai Yisroel! Vayomer Balak El Bilaam Meh Asita Li Lakov Oyvai L’Kachticha V’Hinei Beirachta Vareich – Balak said to Bilaam, “What have you done to me! To curse my enemy have I brought you – but behold, you have even blessed!” (Num. 23:11)

Balak’s frustration is something we can all understand. He believed that Bilaam, a powerful soothsayer/prophet was capable of communing with God and deriving the appropriate sign in order to curse Bnai Yisroel. Bilaam’s response is quite revealing: Halo Eit Asher Yasim HaShem B’Fi Oto Eshmor L’Daber! Is it not so that whatever Hashem puts in my mouth, that I must take heed to speak! Essentially Bilaam explains that he can only say what God would have said. Clearly With his plans stymied, Balak leaves Bilaam in great frustration. If Balak could have traded Bilaam for another soothsayer, he probably would have. As awful a person as Balak is, and as mercenary a person Bilaam is, we can learn a lot from the exchange of both men.  Balak hired the soothsayer to do a job for which Bilaam was renowned for doing. Bilaam did not live up to his reputation.  Had Balak issued a curse himself, even if it failed, at least he would have felt empowered. Remember, Balak is afraid. He knows of Bnai Yisroel’s reputation.  He doesn’t stand a chance in a conventional confrontation. If Balak had been educated and was knowledgeable in the arts of “curse issuing”, then Balak’s frustration would have been directed at God and himself.

While it may be easy to trade players who have not lived up to expectations; it is much harder for Balak to trade Bilaam. For that matter, it’s also really hard to trade ourselves. What do we do when we fail to live up to our own expectations? Do we blame others or do we engage in a bit of introspection and try to improve ourselves?  By turning inwards, by examining our souls, we derive the impetus to ask questions, to learn, and to make Judaism more meaningful. Sometimes, a team will decide not get rid of a player whom they think is underachieving. Rather than look for another player –looking outwards; teams decide to stick with the personnel that they have, to re-affirm their confidence in the player, and give the player more opportunity to play. The result is that both the ownership and the player look inward and renew the sense of commitment and purpose.

                Peace,                   

                Rav Yitz