Dvar Torah for Parshat Balak
"This is the word of...the evil-eyed man" (Numbers 24:3 based on Zohar
1:68b).
Ol' one-eyed Balaam. What a mouth that guy had! He could jinx and damn with the
worst of them. What do I mean?
The Talmud (Berakhot 7a) tells us that Balaam knew the nanosecond of the day in
which God's anger was the deciding element of Divine decision. In that
nanosecond he was ready, God forbid, to curse the Jewish people so thoroughly as
to wipe them totally off the face of earth. The Tosafists ask what Balaam could
have said in such a brief instant that would be so effectively destructive? They
answer that he could have said, "Annihilate them." (In Hebrew this can be said
in one word.)
Imagine. The wrong word at the wrong moment by one individual can so utterly
affect the lives of millions and change the course of history. What if *you*
said the right word at the right time, or any time for that matter? If Balaam,
one of the greatest villains of all time, had it within his grasp to counter the
purpose of God's creation, certainly your words that you speak for the
betterment of the Jewish people and mankind will certainly have a positive
impact.
This is particularly true if you are also a bit "one-eyed." Balaam's one-eye was
focused on the negative aspects of life. Wherever he cast a glance, he cast
withering vibes. A Jew, on the other hand, looks at life differently. "One with
a good eye is blessed," says King Solomon (Proverbs 22:9). King Solomon saw this
first-hand. The holy Zohar tells us that his great-grandmother, Ruth, had such a
generous eye that wherever she cast a glance, blessing immediately followed.
So put down your negativity and look at others—and yourself—favorably. If you
see someone or something in need, ask God to provide it in the best possible
way. May your prayers soon be answered. Amen.
agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!
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