Parshat Balak 5781
Rabbi Jablinowitz
The Medrash Rabbah on parshat Eikev (3,4) teaches that all the blessing which Bnei Yisrael consume in this world is a result of the blessings they received from the wicked Bilam. But the blessing which Bnei Yisrael received from the Avos is reserved for them for the future. How are we to understand that the source of our blessing in this world is, of all people, Bilam Ha’Rasha? And further, if he is the source of such bracha, maybe he isn’t such a Rasha?
The Zohar Hakadosh on parshat Yisro brings a contradiction between two pasukim. The Torah states by the creation (Bereishis, Chapter 2, Pasuk 3), Vayavareich Elokim es Yom Ha’Shevi’i; Hashem blessed the seventh day (Shabbos). Yet we read in the parsha of the mahn in parshat Beshalach (Chapter 16, Pasuk 26), Sheshes Yamim Tilketuhu, U’Vayom Ha’Shevi’I Lo Yihyeh Bo. You shall go out and collect the mahn for six days, but not on Shabbos. If Shabbos is the day which Hashem blessed, surely there should be mahn on Shabbos! Why is it that for six days you receive the blessing of mahn, yet on the day of blessing there is no mahn?
The Zohar explains that Shabbos itself is the source of blessing, and the six days of the week receive their blessing directly from Shabbos. There is no need for the mahn to fall on Shabbos; it falls during the week because of the blessing of Shabbos. And since there is a blessing on Shabbos, one must set his table before Shabbos with Challah, and wine, and food. For blessing can’t rest on an empty table. When there is a full table, there is something upon which the blessing can rest. And then, that blessing is extended to the rest of the week as well.
There is a well-known Medrash (Bereishis Rabbah, 11,8) which states that Shabbos complains before Hashem and says, all the days of the week have a partner (Sunday has Monday, Tuesday has Wednesday, etc.), except for me. And Gd responds, Kenesses Yisrael is your partner. The Sfas Emes teaches, that just as Shabbos is the source of bracha for the other days of the week, so too Am Yisrael is the source of bracha for the rest of the world. And this similarity makes Shabbos and Yisrael partners.
Continuing with this idea, according to the Zohar one must fill his table before Shabbos in order for the bracha to take place on Shabbos and then spread to the other days of the week. This is the preparation done before Shabbos. One must prepare for Shabbos during the week (Chol Maichin L’Shabbos), in order for Shabbos to ultimately bring the blessing on the six days of the week. Similarly, the nations of the world need to provide for Am Yisrael in order that Am Yisrael should be a source of blessing for the nations.
This was Yitzchak’s intention when he wanted to give a bracha to Eisav. He wanted Eisav to have blessing in order to provide for Yaakov. But Hashem knew that Eisav Soneh L’Yaakov; Eisav hates Yaakov and would not be willing to subjugate himself and provide for Yaakov. Therefore, Hashem caused that that the bracha should be given directly to Yaakov himself.
The same thing was true for Bilam Ha’Rasha. He was meant to bless Bnei Yisrael, but he didn’t want to; he wanted to curse them. It was Hashem Who forced him to bless Bnei Yisrael. When Hashem gives Bilam permission to go, the pasuk states (Chapter 22, Pasuk 20), V’Ach es Ha’Davar Asher Adaber Eilecha Oso Sa’ase. Hashem conditioned Bilam that he must do what Hashem says. Rav Tzadok asks, the end of the pasuk should read, Oso Tedaber; you should speak what I tell you to speak. What does it mean Oso Sa’ase?
Rav Tzadok explains based on the Medrash that all Bilam did was move his lips. He did an action, but he didn’t speak. Hashem put the words directly in his mouth. This was the only way Bilam could bless Bnei Yisrael. And in this way his prophecy was like that of Moshe; it was the exact words of Hashem.
This is what the Medrash Rabbah in parshat Eikev means. Our blessing in this world is meant to come from the nations of the world. And since they don’t want to bless us, it needs to be forced upon them. And this is why our blessing in this world comes from Bilam, and he remains Bilam Ha’Rasha because his blessing came upon us against his will. But our ultimate blessing comes from a much higher place. Just as the bracha of Shabbos was established at the outset of creation, as the pasuk says Vayavareich Elokim es Yom Ha’Shevi’i, so too our real bracha comes from the beginning of our history from the Avos, and this Bracha is reserved for all of us to enjoy in the future.
Good Shabbos
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