 |
 |
|
|
PARSHAT BALAK
Incited by fear and jealousy, the Moabite King Balak hired the Midianite magician Bilam to curse the Jewish people. In spite of having applied the most contemporary sorts of magic at the most favorable hours, Bilam was unable to curse Israel. No evil can invade a people dwelling in holiness and chastity. "And Bilam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of the Eternal was upon him." (Bamidbar 24:2) When Bilam saw how the entrances of the tents of each family were facing away from each other, so that no-one could peer into the neighbor's tent, he made up his mind to refrain from cursing them (Rashi). Their modesty was so totally foreign to the customs of the gentiles that it absolutely fascinated Bilam, to the extent that he could not hold himself back from exclaiming: "How goodly are your tents, O Yaacov, and your dwellings, O Israel!" (Bamidbar 24:5) The woman personifies the tent, which served as the home for the Jewish people during their wandering in the wilderness. Likewise the name Yaacov refers to the Jewish women. (See Rashi Shemot 19:3) MODESTY -THE GUARD OF THE SANCTITY OF ISRAEL Just imagine how difficult it must have been to preserve a standard of modesty during extended traveling in the wilderness. Privacy is scarce in the cramped conditions of the tent. It took great wisdom for the Jewish women of the tent to guard the modesty and sanctity of the family, even under the almost impossible conditions of the camp. It was due to their creative powers that women could take ritual baths, bear children, nurses babies, and tend to hygiene without infringing on the sanctity of modesty which so characterizes the Jewish people. This modesty, like a hedge of pure white roses surrounding the camp, protected Israel from the invasion of any external evil-even the most cunning sorcery. Bilam, however, in his shrewdness, understood the secret of Jewish survival. He discerned that only by making a breach in the hedge of purity surrounding the camp of Israel, would their downfall be near. Therefore, he conspired the plot to arouse the Jewish men with seductive gentile beauties. For the complete dvar Torah, please send email to berot@netvision.net.il. *******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******
|
 |
|