Would we name a parsha after Sinwar,
who wants to see the annihilation of the Jewish people?
Why do we have a parsha named after
Balak, one of our greatest enemies, who was already looking for our destruction
even before we entered the Land of Israel?
Balak (the king) told Bilam (the
prophet) in Bamidbar 22:6:
Now, please come and curse this
nation for me, for they are stronger than I, perhaps then I will be able to
defeat them and drive them from the land…
This sounds like what is happening
today. Hamas think that if they curse Israel and the Jewish people enough then
they will be able to get rid of us and throw us out of Israel.
In the end, God transformed the
curses into blessings as God won’t let anyone get away with cursing us.
In Bilam’s third blessing (Bamidbar
24:9) he says:
He crouches and lies like a lion,
who would dare rouse him? Those who bless you are blessed and those who curse
you are cursed.
Rashi brings Onkelos’ interpretation
which says that no kingdom will move the Jewish people. They will settle in
their land with strength and power.
Although Balak’s original plan was
to curse Israel and have them thrown out of their land, in the end they were
blessed to settle there. Those who are with us will be blessed and those
against us will be cursed.
The anti-Israel protests that are
taking place around the world that call for the destruction of Israel seem very
powerful right now and a lot of people are joining them. However, as these
demonstrations are now branching out with the message of hate towards the
United States and other countries where they are being held, the general
population is noticing whose side they prefer to be on and slowly but surely
they will stand by us.
May we only see brachot and may all
those who stand up for the State of Israel be blessed.
