CHASSIDIC PEARLS BY RABBI LAZER BRODY PARSHAS BALAK

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.