בס”ד
Parashat Balak In this week’s reading, Balak, we find the prophet Bilaam wanting to curse the Jewish people and not being able to. G-d changed his curses into blessings. We find a very deep evil meaning of Bilaam inside of each one of us and an interesting tool to prevent it
This week’s Torah portion is Balak, named after the king of Moav, who harbored such deep hatred for the Jewish people that he sought their complete destruction. As the Jewish people journeyed through the desert toward the Land of Israel, they needed to pass through Moav. King Balak, however, not only refused them entry—he plotted to destroy them entirely.
To carry out his plan, Balak hired Bilam, the most renowned prophet among the non-Jews, to curse the Jewish people. But as we know from the Torah, Bilam ultimately failed. G-d intervened and transformed Bilam’s intended curses into blessings.
But this isn’t just a historical tale. The Torah isn’t merely a book of stories—it’s a living guide, reflecting what happens within each of us. Every character, every event, reveals aspects of our own inner world.
So who is Bilam inside of us?
To understand Bilam, we first need to look at someone else: Amalek. Just as Amalek was an external enemy of the Jewish people, it also represents an internal spiritual enemy. And here’s where things get interesting—Bilam and Amalek are intimately connected, both linguistically and conceptually.
The Hebrew Connection: Bilam and Amalek
Even if you don’t read Hebrew, there’s a fascinating connection between the names Bilam (בלעם) and Amalek (עמלק).
- The last two letters of Bilam (ל־ם) are the first two letters of Amalek.
- Likewise, the first two letters of Bilam (ב־ל) are echoed in the last two letters of Amalek.
This wordplay reveals a deep connection between these two forces—not just in the story, but within us.
What Does Amalek Represent?
Amalek symbolizes two core traits that are deeply destructive to spiritual growth:
- Arrogance
Amalek dared to attack the Jewish people right after the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, despite the awe and fear surrounding them. This act reflects the pride and ego that drive someone to oppose even that which is clearly beyond them. - Indifference
Our sages teach that Amalek represents spiritual coldness—a refusal to care, to feel, to be moved. Bilam, who spoke directly with G-d, still chose to rebel. This is Amalek: knowing the truth and remaining unmoved by it.
What’s the Antidote? Yirah and Ahavah
Now let’s flip the coin.
There are two powerful spiritual tools we can use to overcome the Bilam and Amalek within us: Yirah (awe/fear of G-d) and Ahavah (love of G-d).
These two qualities are also deeply linked—just like Bilam and Amalek.
- The last letters of “Yirah” (יראה) form the first letters of “Ahavah” (אהבה), and vice versa.
- This mirror image reminds us that these two emotions go hand in hand.
Yirah – Awe of G-d
This is not fear in the sense of terror. It’s the deep sense of respect, reverence, and accountability that comes from recognizing G-d as the one who gives us life, sustains us every moment, and watches over us. When we truly feel that, we naturally avoid acting against His will.
Ahavah – Love of G-d
Love of G-d is about wanting to do good—not out of fear or obligation, but from a place of gratitude, joy, and connection. We want to please G-d because He loves us and has given us so much.
Fighting Bilam and Amalek Within
So how do we transform our internal Bilam and Amalek?
By cultivating fear and love of G-d.
- When we develop Yirah, we dismantle arrogance—because we realize we’re not the center of the universe.
- When we nurture Ahavah, we overcome indifference—because we become emotionally connected to our Creator and His values.
This transformation turns our inner “curses”—our bad habits, doubts, arrogance, or coldness—into blessings. Just like Bilam, who opened his mouth to curse and ended up blessing.
A Prayer for Transformation
May it be G-d’s will that we work on ourselves deeply and truthfully—developing both fear of G-d and love of G-d. May these tools help us battle the Bilam and Amalek within us, so we can transform negativity into holiness, arrogance into humility, and indifference into passion for good.
Let the blessings flow from within us.
Shabbat Shalom.
Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
The above is a representation of the spoken text converted to written text.
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