Author Topic: Video Study for Parasha Balak (Read 2796 times)

muman613 · « **on:** July 05, 2012, 10:35:53 PM »

This Shabbat we will read Parasha Balak. This Parasha contains the story about how Balak, the King of Moab, plots to destroy the Jewish people. His plan is to hire the best gentile 'Mystic' who is known to have the ability to place curses on people to place a curse on the Jewish people. Bilaam is the gentile prophet who is given the mission to curse the Jewish people.

The Torah tells us how Bilaam tries with all his might and all his will to curse the Jews but at every turn Hashem prevents him from cursing, and instead cause this wicked prophet to bless the Jews. It is this Parasha of Balak which contains the story of the donkey which spoke to Bilaam, a story which has many mystical secrets.

Althought Bilaam could not curse the people he was able to suggest to Balak a way of bringing the Jewish people down from their high level. By sending the daughters of Moab into the midst of the Jewish men the Moabites were able to tempt the Jewish men to do idol worship, and thus inflame the wrath of our G-d against us.

The Parasha ends with the courageous act of Pinchas who acted promptly and executed justice against a prince of Israel who was having carnal relations with a prohibited woman right in the presence of Moshe and the entire congregation. Pinchas, who we read more about next week, was rewarded for his zealousness in the end....

First the animated G-dcast presentation of the Parasha: