D'var Torah
One of the Torah portions we read on the second Shabbat of Tamuz is Balak. Balak being the king of Moab, the country on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, on the path of the people of Israel into the Promised Land.
Balak was afraid because Israel had conquered the lands of his strong neighbors, Sichon of the Emori and Og the king of the Bashan.
Balak did not trust his army to be able to fight Israel (who was not allowed to conquer Moab). So he decided to use the power of words, of the gift of speech in his war against Israel. He decided to invite Bilam to curse our people.
“So now- please come and curse this people for me, for it is too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to strike it and drive it way from the land. For I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is accursed.”
After repeated requests by very important ministers, and promises of honor and reward, Bilam ignored the warnings of God and accepted the invitation. Bilam made it clear to Balak that he could not say anything not inspired by God:
They tried to find faults with Israel in order to arouse the anger of Hashem, they tried to “bribe” the Almighty by building altars and sacrificing bulls and rams, but to no avail. Instead of curses, Bilam had to utter praises and blessings, against his will.
“Balak’s anger flared against Bilam and he clapped his hands. Balak said to Bilam: To curse my enemies did I summon you and behold you have blessed them these three times! Now flee to your place, I said I would honor you, but Hashem has withheld you from honor”.
Balak, the enemy, recognized the power of words. The people of Israel know this power. The world was created by ten utterances of Hashem. The power of speech was given to human beings.
“And Hashem formed the man of dust from the ground and he blew into his nostrils the soul of life and man became a living being.”
Onkelos comments in his translation of a speaking being: We can use this gift of speech to improve life, to create, to develop ideas, to make friends, to make peace and create bonds between people.
On the other hand it can be used to destroy, to subdue, to create enemies. It is interesting that the same root: ãáø is used also in the úð"ê in describing subjugation, conquest:
“The God who grants me vengeance, and subjugates nations beneath me.”
These past few weeks we have been experiencing a real war of words. There was worldwide tension in anticipation of the speech of President Obama in Cairo. It has caused anxiety and worry in Israel and in part of the Jewish world.
Now there is palpable tension waiting for the response of Prime Minister Netanyahu. We are all aware of the fact that each word, each sentence has to be chosen carefully in order to maintain our security, integrity and independence, and at the same time to preserve our good relations with the United States. When we are in the midsts of a war of words it is good to remember the words of the prophet éùòéäå:
“Plan a conspiracy and it shall be annulled, speak you piece and it shall not stand, for God is with us”.
Miriam Hauer
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