This week’s Torah reading relates the story of Balak and Bilam, how they tried to destroy the Jewish People by cursing them. However, only blessings came out of that. Within the blessings Bilam recites, he describes the Jewish People like a crouched lion. What can we learn from that?
This week’s Torah reading is called Balak. Balak was the name of a Moabite king who sought to completely destroy the Jewish people. To achieve this, he hired a very interesting figure mentioned in the scriptures, named Balaam. Balaam had the power to curse people, and when he cursed someone, it was believed that the curse was effective.
However, the Torah tells us that every time Balaam attempted to curse the Jewish people, only blessings came out of his mouth. This itself teaches us that nothing can actually destroy the Jewish people.
An interesting verse appears the third time Balaam tries to curse the Jewish people. He observed their encampment and saw a large assembly—600,000 men between the ages of 20 and 60, totaling around three million people. He remarked that they were crouched and lying down like a lion and a lioness, saying, “Who can destroy them? Who can lift them up and throw them away?” This statement underscores his realization that despite their apparent vulnerability, the Jewish people were indomitable.
The simple meaning of this verse is that Balaam saw the Jewish people camping and concluded that they were invincible, even though they seemed subdued. Our sages, however, interpret this verse in a broader context, not only referring to historical events but also describing our current exile.
Exile, which began with the destruction of the First Temple and continued through the Second Temple—which, though standing, was not as complete as the first—and persists today, means that we do not perceive G-d’s presence clearly. We struggle to understand Him and to fulfill His commandments, as Jews with their 613 commandments and non-Jews with their seven Noahide laws.
Despite these challenges, we are like lions. Even though we may seem crouched, we possess inherent strength. The physical world was created for us to connect to G-d. Just as a child seeks their father in a game of hide and seek, G-d hides to give us the opportunity to seek and find Him. Our connection to G-d is established through fulfilling the commandments He has given us.
The strength to overcome difficulties and fulfill these commandments, despite the challenges, is akin to that of a lion. The world cannot stand against a person who sincerely seeks to connect with G-d because the world itself was created for this purpose. Once we realize our own strength, akin to that of a lion, we can harness this power and strengthen our connection with G-d.
Parshat Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
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