1st Aliya: Parashat Balak begins with King Balak's offer to Bilam the Prophet to curse the Jewish people and G-d's refusal to allow him to accept. 2nd Aliya: Balak sent a second negotiating team and Bilam was given permission to go. However, G-d stipulated that Bilam could only speak the word of G-d. 3rd Aliya: Along the way the incident with the talking donkey occurred, emphasizing G-d's instructions to that Bilam only deliver the word of G-d. 4th Aliya: Bilam attempted his first curse and was unable to do so. Instead, the words he spoke were a blessing for the Jewish people. 5th Aliya: Bilam made his second attempt at cursing the Jews and was again unable to do so. Instead, he issued his second blessing. 6th & 7th Aliya: Billam attempted his final curse but again blessed the Jews. As he left in disgrace, Bilam told the assembled coalition of kings of their eventual destruction by the Jews. As a parting shot against the Jews, he advised them to seduce the Jewish men with Midianite women and bring G-d's wrath down upon the nation. The Parasha concludes with the incident of Baal-Peor and Pinchas's heroism.
HAFTARAH
Michah 5:6 – 6:8
This week's Haftarah is from Micha. Micha prophesized around the year 3200 during the reigns of Achaz and Chilkiah. The prophecy in this selection relates to the period prior to the war of Gog and Magog and the coming of Mashiach. The nations of the world will have assembled against Israel, and the Jews will know that their salvation can only come from G-d. G-d's power will be revealed to everyone and a time of peace and tranquility will envelop humanity. Armies and defenses will no longer be necessary to protect the Jews and the nation's war machinery will be disassembled. Micha was then commanded to chastise his generation for violating G-d's will, despite all the goodness He had bestowed upon them. In the final verses of the Haftarah, the prophet tells the nation that true atonement can only be attained through change and action. The ceremonious aspects of devotion, such as sacrifice and prayer, will not accomplish forgiveness. Justice, loving kindness, modesty, humility, and active change are the services that G-d desires. The connection to our Parasha is the mention of Balak and Billam as examples of G-d's caring and protection for the Jewish people. The story of Parashat Balak involved G-d protecting us from our enemies even when we were totally unaware of their insidious conspiracies and intentions. Prior to the coming of Mashiach, the Jews will realize that their safety is dependent upon G-d and G-d alone, just as the Jews in the desert were totally dependent upon G-d's continuous protection and intervention.
