Bilam’s first bracha (Bamidbar 23:7-10) declares:
“From Aram, Balak, King of Moav brought me, out of the mountains of the east saying, ‘Come curse Yaakov for me. Go denounce Yisrael.’ How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For I view it, from the mountain peaks (rosh tzurim), I gaze upon it from the hills (gvaot); a people that dwells alone; not reckoning itself among nations. Who can count the dust of Yaakov or count the seed of Yisrael? May my soul die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his.”
According to Rashi, the word “rosh,” head, refers to their origins, the beginnings of their roots which are well founded and powerful, like the mountains (patriarchs) and the hills (matriarchs).
Rashi adds that the notion that they will dwell alone was passed down from their forefathers.
Two places in Israel received their names from Bilam’s blessing, Rosh Tzurim (mountain peaks) and Gvaot (hills).
Rosh Tzurim, in the Gush Etzion region, was established by the Religious Kibbutz Movement after the Six Day War on the ruins of Ein Tzurim which was destroyed in 1948 and relocated near Ashkelon. Rosh Tzurim is most widely known for its cherry picking festival which takes place at this time of the year. The kibbutz also raises turkeys, produces milk and grows grapes for wine production.
Gvaot, which is located near Rosh Tzurim originally started out as a military outpost in 1984, later transitioned into a residential village and was officially recognized this past December as a yishuv (settlement). Gvaot is in the westernmost area of Gush Etzion and hosts Sadnat Shiluv (Integrative Workshop), a socially unique community which fully integrates people with special needs. Although at times we may feel like we are a people who dwell alone, when we encounter supportive communities like Gvaot, we are reminded of how we are there for each other.
May we take the opportunity to travel to Gush Etzion, a short ride from Jerusalem and see Bilam’s blessings being fulfilled by participating in Kibbutz Rosh Tzurim’s cherry picking festival or by visiting Gvaot, a model community where people with disabilities are treated as equals.
