Shiur provided courtesy of Naaleh.com

Adapted by Channie Koplowitz Stein

Bilaam, the greatest of the gentile prophets, was hired by the king of Moav to curse Bnei Yisroel as they were about to enter the Land. Incredibly, Hashem transformed Bilaam's curses into blessings. In a Gemorrah discussion, the Rabbis originally wish to incorporate this parshah with Bilaam's prophecy as part of Krias Shema, seeing a connection between, "He crouched down like a lion, and like an awesome lion -- who can stand him up," and, the words in the Shema,"When you lie down and when you rise up. " The Sages decided against including this passage so as not to burden the congregation [by extending the service].

This verse carries an eternal message which emphasizes Hashem's safeguarding us day and night That idea is the basis of their discussion, writes the Oshorover Rebbe zt”l, in Be'er Moshe. What is this message? That we can dispel the power of sorcerers and those who wish us evil through our belief in Hashem Elokheinu Hashem Echad, that there is no other power than Hashem, and He can transform curses to blessings.

It is the merit of reciting the Shema that protects us, writes Rabbi Asher Weiss. The Shema and these prophetic verses allude to the reciprocal relationship between ourselves and Hakodosh Boruch Hu. As long as we accept Hashem's sovereignty over us, as long as we recite the Shema, Hashem will protect us. When we awake in the morning and go to sleep at night with the firm belief that there is no power in all existence other than Hashem's will, when we subjugate ourselves totally to His will and declare it with our recitation of Shema, we have drained the powers of evil and transformed them into blessings.

This is so throughout our history, whether we are down in golus or rise in national glory. [Prime Minister Netanyahu recognized this truth; he prayed at the kotel before the IAF mission on Iran's centrifuges, and he returned to the kotel in thanks at the successful completion of the mission. CKS]

In every situation, in every war, know that Hashem is fighting for us, for our survival. As one sheep continues to survive among seventy wolves, we are proof of Hashem's existence, writes Rabbi Moshe Aron Stern zt”l in From the Mashgiach's Heart. Where all others have disappeared, we live on. As Rebbetzin Smiles points out, it is only through Hashem's miraculous intervention that the enemy drones have proven to be ineffective in achieving their goals, that they have fallen short, have landed in empty fields, and have succumbed to human error that set the timers wrong.

This is the belief we must have in every situation. We are "the fortunate nation that can say, Kacha/This is the way it is supposed to be," and accept it all with love, for Hashem is our God, and I set His presence always before me, writes Rabbi Gamliel Rabinowitz in The Essence of Emunah."

In The Book of Michah, the Haftorah for this Parshah, the Prophet Michah commands us to remember the scheme of King Balak and Bilaam so that we recognize Hashem's benevolence. During the entire time that Bilaam attempted to curse Bnei Yisroel, Hashem withheld any anger lest some of Bilaam's curses penetrate. This was pure chesed from Hashem, a chesed we would know nothing about had Hashem not included this entire episode in the Torah, writes the Shvilei Pinchas. We were not witness to the malicious scheme, we therefore could not cry out to Hashem to save us, yet Hashem protected us. This was a pure demonstration of Hashem's love for us and is why some Sages suggest that this episode should also be included and added to the six eternal remembrances.

This was a battle different from other battles, one not fought with soldiers but with pitting the sacred against the evil. We are told to remember the kindness of Hashem, that Hashem protected us even when we did not cry out, and that He revealed it to us in His Torah, else we would be unaware of this kindness and how much He loves us.

Shevlei Pinchas continues by explaining the verse in Tehillim117:1: "Praise Hashem, all you nations... for His kindness has overwhelmed us and the truth of Hashem is eternal, Hallelujah." Sometimes it is only the nations themselves who witness Hashem's benevolence toward us, for their schemes and attacks were secret. Therefore, they, more than anyone, can praise Hashem, for, in spite of their secrecy, Hashem was aware, and Hashem alone saved us from them. Even the recipients of the miracle were unaware of their salvation.

This idea is alluded to in Tehillim 136, the chapter known as Hallel Hagadol, the Great Hallel. Verse 4 says, "To Him Who does great wonders alone, for His chesed is eternal.: Rabbi Kram explains that this refers to all the great wonders Hashem does when there are no witnesses, when He alone knows, for they are hidden miracles. He does these miracles for us in every generation, and we say thank You to Him constantly for the daily miracles and salvations we are unaware of. [How often do we drive along and realize with a start how narrowly we missed being involved in a major accident. Our thoughts turn for a relieved thank You to Hashem. Now, how many times do we drive blissfully along without realizing that we have indeed miraculously avoided a major accident? CKS]

When we recite the Shema, we are therefore encouraged to prolong the enunciation of the two letters that together bear witness to Hashem's sole sovereignty through the four corners of the world, עד, formed from שמע ... אחד.

Bnei Yisroel were blissfully unaware of the danger that Balak and Bilaam were trying to bring upon them, but that Hashem foiled their plans is further proof that Hashem is all powerful in all four corners of the world, and that no other power exists outside Hashem. Hashem demands that we remember His unnoticed kindness, and He will reciprocate when we call out and ask Him to remember the calamities that befall us, to remember us as His chosen nation, and help us. If we fail to remember, He too will "forget."

By reading this parshah and its Haftorah once a year, we fulfill our obligation to remember what Balak and Bilaam schemed, and how Hashem saved us, as the Prophet Michah commanded, just as we fulfill our obligation to remember Amalek and how they attacked us by reading that passage once a year. By our remembering Balak's nefariousness, we pray that Hashem will remember what Edom has done to us in this galus, and again work for our salvation.

This parshah epitomizes the great love Hakodosh Boruch Hu has for us, reminds us Rabbi Dunner zt”l, a love that we recognize and express daily in the paragraph that immediately precedes the Shema. Therefore, when we read this parshah, we should focus on Hashem's love and protection of us just as we do when we are about to recite the Shema.

We are believers the sons of believers. But what exactly is belief, faith emunah? Rabbi Beyfus explains that there are three components to our emunah. First, we must believe that Hashem exists. Then we must believe that the Torah is from Heaven. Finally, we must believe in Divine providence, that Hashem oversees the world and offers Divine protection. Just as the Shema emphasizes that belief that Hashem exists, the Parsha of Balak teaches that Torah is from heaven, and Divine Providence.

It is Bilaam's last prophecy that is perhaps most intriguing. Here, not only does Hashem reveal to Bilaam what will happen in the end of days, but Bilaam himself declares, "Let my soul die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs." It is interesting that the Torah does not reveal visions of the future anywhere else. [Hashem prevented Yaakov Avinu from revealing the end of days. CKS] Why give Bilaam this vision? In Be'er Hachaim Rabbi Steinwurzel offers an explanation. Bilaam had tried to arouse Hashem's anger by reminding Hashem of all the sins Bnei Yisroel had committed. But Hashem is taking the long view, and informs Bilaam of Bnei Yisroel's potential.

Rabbi Steinwurzel presents the analogy of a teacher whose class includes the proverbial class clown. Frustrated and unable to teach properly, he approaches the principal and suggests they expel the boy. However, before they do so, they consult a great rabbi. After meeting with the boy, this rabbi notes great potential in the boy, predicting that he will be the next gadol hador/ rabbinic leader of the generation. With this insight, their perception changes. Naturally, the teacher and the principal reconsider, give the boy a pass on much of his current behavior, and encourage him based on his potential. [Perhaps it's just a phase. CKS] This is what Hashem showed Bilaam in this last vision, and this is why Bilaam could no longer even attempt to curse Bnei Yisroel.

Every person is created to have potential in a particular area. But his talents and strengths will be in the same areas where he will experience his greatest challenges against the yetzer horo. The areas where Bnei Yisroel sinned were also the areas where their greatest potential would be realized. Therefor Bilaam was unable to curse them. This is why we must focus our thoughts and our hearts on accepting the yoke of Heaven when we recite the Shema. Have that vision of yourself and your potential. Right now, we may be lying down, we've messed up, but watch out when we realize our potential and rise up. These days of mourning will be transformed into days of salvation. Get ready to see the light.

Rabbi Wolbe zt”l urges us to recognize the area we are most prone to sin. This is the also area of our greatest potential, and why the yetzer horo keeps attacking us here, to prevent us from achieving that potential. Transform that part of you to a positive by turning it into positive service and direction to advance you toward your potential.

R. Weinberg zt’l in Shemen Hatov notes, that the ‘tircha d’tzibura’ that Chazal were referring to, was living the messages of Parshat Balak throughout our day. Living with awareness of Hashem’s constant love, protection, and living up to this standard, is a high call. Therefore, we need to infuse the time between our rising in the morning and our retiring at night with the same deveikus, attachment and loyalty to Hashem that we professed when we recited the Shema.

We must know that Hashem is always protecting us, His providence is constant and eternal, and we have the potential to achieve our own unique perfection, both as individuals and as a nation.