This week’s Torah portion is called Balak.
It describes the way the world viewed the Jewish people as they were marching through the desert.
The Jewish nation had experienced miracles coupled with great ups and downs.
Despite receiving the Torah at Mt Sinai, the acme of experiences, they sank to the nadir with the sin of the Golden Calf.
And when the opportunity arrived to enter into the Land of Israel, the spies sent to reconnoiter saw the greatness of the land and its inhabitants, but did not have the necessary faith in Gd or in themselves to enter the Land.
Due to their insecurity and feeling like they looked like grasshoppers in the eyes of the inhabitants, they feared to enter and shared a negative report.
This resulted in the punishment of marching through the desert for 40 years.
We know how the Jewish people felt about themselves.
But how did the other nations really see the Jews?
We get a glimpse of understanding from this portion.
It turns out that the other nations were actually fearful if the Jewish nation.
It turns out that a powerful king by the name of Balak, hence the name of the portion, was so fearful of the Jews, he hired a sorcerer to curse the Jewish nation.
That prophet was called Bilaam, and every time he attempts to curse the Jews, his words come out in the form of a blessing.
The words he spouts, are actually coming from Gd.
This is a curious phenomenon.
The last Torah portions are an accumulation of failures on the part of the Jewish people.
The track record is pretty abysmal and it would not be surprising if the Jews thought Gd had pretty much given up on them.
But they are given an insider’s peek when they hear the words of Bilaam, who is only a mouthpiece for Gd.

And Bilaam says
“How goodly are your tents, Jacob”, complimenting the special interactions, the modesty and sensitivity the Nation is expressing to one another.
It’s a compliment of the highest order.
And that is only one of the prophecies Bilaam shares.
So it seems that even though there are many mistakes and mess ups that have occurred, these mistakes do not define us in Gd’s eyes.
We do fail and fall, but in Gd’s eyes, we are still great.
We can use a failure as a stepping stone in our journey through the desert of our lives.
And if we make a mistake.
Gd still loves us.
Sometimes the most incredible wisdom comes from the most unlikely of prophets.
When the prophet is on his way to curse the Jews he travels on his donkey. The donkey stops in its tracks along the way and Bilaam in his frustration, beats the recalcitrant donkey which seems to be obstinately stalled. The donkey then “opens its mouth” and speaks to Bilaam.
Even in miraculous, Biblical times, this is still a totally paranormal interaction.
In fact, our Sages teach us that the “mouth of the donkey” this incredible, characteristic, was actually created by Gd right at the end of the Creation process. Right before the very first Shabbat was entering, signaling the end of Gd’s creation process, at twilight, a number of unique items were created.
One of them was the mouth of the donkey.
So what could you imagine would be the pearls of wisdom that would be emitted by this consciously created creature?
The donkey said to Bilaam
“Why are you hitting me after I have served you so faithfully”
That’s it!
Yes indeed, deep wisdom comes from the most curious of sources.
The donkey is teaching a profound truth.
Gratitude.
If you have received the service of another in any way, shape or form, that entity deserves your gratitude.
That is woven into the very fabric of creation.
This portion teaches us that no matter how we have mistepped, we are precious in Gd’s eyes, and those in our orbit who have provided us with love, protection or direction should be precious in our eyes and deserve our appreciation and gratitude.
Wisdom can come from the most unlikely places.
And in news from the war that never ends, an IDF strike against a convoy of terrorists was successfully completed.
The arms being transported were aboard a wagon being pulled by a donkey.
The terrorists and the arms were obliterated.
But in the spirit of the Torah portion, the donkey remained alive.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!