13 Tammuz 5783 – 2 July 2023
The Apter Rebbe was known for teaching that every portion of the Torah had a lesson about shalom – getting along with others. His followers asked him where there is such a lesson in this week’s Torah portion, Balak. He said it’s right there in the name. The three Hebrew letters that make up BLK stand for the phrase “V’ahavta L’rayecha Ch’mocha” – you shall love your friend as yourself.
They gave the Rebbe a puzzled look and said that the letters don’t match. Balak begins with a Bet, and V’ahavta begins with a Vav. The last letter of Balak is a Kuf, but Ch’amocha begins with a Chaf.
Smiling, the Rebbe said, “That’s my point. If everything has to be exactly perfect – you’ll never have peace!”
By Rabbi Michael Skobac
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