CHASSIDIC PEARLS BY RABBI LAZER BRODY PARSHAS BALAK
"It is a nation that will dwell in solitude and won't be considered among the nations" (Bamidbar 23:9).
Against his will and contrary to his hopes, the wicked Bilaam was forced to bless the Nation of Israel. Bilaam of course intended the above utterance as a curse; he wanted the Jews to be considered outcasts and never accepted by any society. Non-believers throughout the ages have tried to rescind Bilaam's intent by assimilating and trying to forcibly gain acceptance by the other nations. Yet throughout Jewish history, the slightest deviation from Torah and Torah values – let alone total assimilation – has always led to tragedy.
Fortunately, Bilaam's curse isn't the decisive factor. Hashem extracts a wonderful blessing for the Jewish People from Bilaam's venomous words. Nothing is better for the Jewish people than dwelling in holiness and solitude, without the spiritual contamination of outside influences. In his classic interpretation of the Passover Haggadah, the great Abarbanel writes that in addition to the fact that our people preserved our traditional dress, language, and names in Egypt, by virtue of the separate Jewish settlement in the Goshen area of Egypt, there wasn't a single case of assimilation and the Jews were therefore redeemed from bondage.
Bilaam's apparent curse is a blessing on a much deeper level as well, with import spiritual ramifications. He says that Israel "won't be considered among the nations". Rashi interprets that Israel has an entirely separate account from the nations of the world. The Zohar and the Midrash say that Israel exists on a totally different spiritual plane from the other nations. Whereas the other nations receive their abundance by way of an exhaustive hierarchy of messengers that are clothed within nature, Hashem personally and directly feeds the Jewish people, especially those who dwell in the Land of Israel.
Our sages teach us that while the nations of the world are subjugated to the laws of nature, Israel – Hashem's chosen people – are not, on condition that they observe His commandments and devote their lives to Torah and prayer. Since Torah and prayer are above nature, those who cling to them also defy nature.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches (Likutei Moharan I:216) that our prayers lift us beyond the limitations of nature. In addition, they defy nature and can alter nature.
For example, according to nature, the job market could be sorely limited, the economy recessive, and no employment opportunities available. None of these natural limitations mean anything to Hashem. So, when people pray, Hashem can arrange for them any number of suitable jobs; if Hashem so desires, He can send them their livelihood without even working.
In light of Rebbe Nachman's above teaching, a person would have to be an imbecile to flatter an employer or to subjugate himself to flesh and blood or to the laws of nature in his efforts to bring home the bread. Prayer and emuna both defy the laws of nature, and enable The King's children – the Jewish people – to eat directly out of His blessed outstretched hand.
"It is a nation that will dwell in solitude and won't be considered among the nations" (Bamidbar 23:9).
Against his will and contrary to his hopes, the wicked Bilaam was forced to bless the Nation of Israel. Bilaam of course intended the above utterance as a curse; he wanted the Jews to be considered outcasts and never accepted by any society. Non-believers throughout the ages have tried to rescind Bilaam's intent by assimilating and trying to forcibly gain acceptance by the other nations. Yet throughout Jewish history, the slightest deviation from Torah and Torah values – let alone total assimilation – has always led to tragedy.
Fortunately, Bilaam's curse isn't the decisive factor. Hashem extracts a wonderful blessing for the Jewish People from Bilaam's venomous words. Nothing is better for the Jewish people than dwelling in holiness and solitude, without the spiritual contamination of outside influences. In his classic interpretation of the Passover Haggadah, the great Abarbanel writes that in addition to the fact that our people preserved our traditional dress, language, and names in Egypt, by virtue of the separate Jewish settlement in the Goshen area of Egypt, there wasn't a single case of assimilation and the Jews were therefore redeemed from bondage.
Bilaam's apparent curse is a blessing on a much deeper level as well, with import spiritual ramifications. He says that Israel "won't be considered among the nations". Rashi interprets that Israel has an entirely separate account from the nations of the world. The Zohar and the Midrash say that Israel exists on a totally different spiritual plane from the other nations. Whereas the other nations receive their abundance by way of an exhaustive hierarchy of messengers that are clothed within nature, Hashem personally and directly feeds the Jewish people, especially those who dwell in the Land of Israel.
Our sages teach us that while the nations of the world are subjugated to the laws of nature, Israel – Hashem's chosen people – are not, on condition that they observe His commandments and devote their lives to Torah and prayer. Since Torah and prayer are above nature, those who cling to them also defy nature.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches (Likutei Moharan I:216) that our prayers lift us beyond the limitations of nature. In addition, they defy nature and can alter nature.
For example, according to nature, the job market could be sorely limited, the economy recessive, and no employment opportunities available. None of these natural limitations mean anything to Hashem. So, when people pray, Hashem can arrange for them any number of suitable jobs; if Hashem so desires, He can send them their livelihood without even working.
In light of Rebbe Nachman's above teaching, a person would have to be an imbecile to flatter an employer or to subjugate himself to flesh and blood or to the laws of nature in his efforts to bring home the bread. Prayer and emuna both defy the laws of nature, and enable The King's children – the Jewish people – to eat directly out of His blessed outstretched hand.
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