Weekly Announcements
Ahavat Yisrael of Wesley Hills Announcements
Balak
July 11 – July 17
15 Tamuz – 21 Tamuz
Remember, After Shabbos the Three Weeks of mourning that precede Tisha B'av begin, haircutting should take place prior to Shabbos.
Please note that for the next few weeks Maariv will be held at 9:05 PM in order to say shma at the proper time, Tehillim will precede at 9:00 PM
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY (7/11)
Mincha: 7:00 PM
Candles not after: 8:11 PM
SHABBOS (7/12)
Shacharis: 9:00 AM
Latest time for shma: 9:18 AM
Parsha Shiur: 7:15 PM
Mincha: 8:00 PM
Shabbos Ends/Tehillim: 9:13 PM
Maariv: 9:19 PM
SUNDAY Fast 17th of Tamuz (7/13)
Fast Begins: 4:22 AM
Shacharis: 8:00 AM
Rabbi’s Gemara Shiur at shul and zoom: 9:00 AM https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Mincha/Maariv: 8:00 PM
Fast ends: 9:08 PM
MONDAY – THURSDAY (7/14-7/17)
Tehillim: 9:00 PM
Maariv: 9:05 PM
Wednesday: Parsha previews on zoom 8:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Dvar Torah & Thoughts on Balak
Rabbi Asher Bush
The talking donkey of Bilaam is a topic that never ceases to intrigue, whether the question is how it was possible, what does it mean to be created on twilight of Erev Shabbos at the end of creation, the fact that Bilaam doesn’t seem astonished at all by this phenomenon, talking right back to it as if he were speaking with a person; these and so many other questions will occupy our thoughts over the next several days. But a question that seems to escape notice, although many of our Sages did address it, is why this striking miracle was provided for Bilaam and the officers of Balak who were traveling with him. Why would or should they and not the Jewish people be privileged to see such an amazing event, and how was it supposed to touch or inspire them.
Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (in his Meshach Chochma) explains that God wanted to place the fear of the Jewish people on the kings of the area. That process certainly seems to have started with the defeat of the mighty Sichon and Og, and was continuing as seen in the way Balak and his people fear the approaching Jews. But all of this was “natural”, as the wars and the victories are the way of the world, but now they have reached out to Bilaam, who, real or otherwise, is invoking the supernatural. To counter this, God wanted this miracle, literally turning nature upside down to have a barnyard animal speak, this would impress Bilaam so that the level of fear that followed the parting of the Yam Suf would once again be felt now that we were (once again) about to enter the land of Israel. And even though the Jewish armies were loyal and worthy of Divine protection, that level of loyalty could not be taken for granted, as even Yaakov Avinu kept wondering whether he was “still” worthy of the Divine protection he had been promised. So God wanted to impress upon this most influential leader, the one who himself claimed to defy nature, that true supernatural power lay only with God, and that nobody should attack the Jews.
But why the nobles of Midyan, why did they too need to witness and experience this miracle? As seen throughout this account, for all of the esteem in which Bilaam was held, it was also known that he had a “soft spot” for wealth, so that for a price he could easily change sides, for a price he would say whatever he was paid to say. For this reason, writes Rav Meir Simcha, it was necessary that these highly respected leaders of Midyan also saw this miracle, so that when Bilaam put out the word that God is indeed on the side of the Jews and they should not be attacked, these men would vouch for him, yes, we too saw the Divine intervention.
While we don’t have any talking donkeys (no jokes allowed at this point), the idea that the world should be unwilling and afraid to attack the Jewish people is as vital as ever. This indeed is so much of what our Tefillos have been about for the past 20 months. And while so much of the world will never miss a chance to criticize any act Israel does to defend itself and bolster its security, the fact is, that recent events have also played a role in placing this kind of fear in the hearts of many who wish to do us harm. Perhaps this too is part of what the Mishna in Pirkei Avos means when it says that Bilaam’s donkey was created during that twilight before the first Shabbos of Creation, that built into God’s creation is the fact that throughout history, often when we least expect it, events will take place that defy logic and any expectations, events that play a great role in putting the fear of God and the fear of Israel on those who wish to harm us.