The communication business is a multi-billion dollar industry. Yet with all the technical know-how, phones, and satellite systems we still have a problem in talking and understanding each other. Weather it is parents to children, husbands to wives, neighbors and friends, allies and enemies, we still have trouble in communicating our thoughts and intentions to one another.
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Balak, God opens up the mouth of the donkey to speak to Bilaam. The verse states in Chapter 22 verse 28 “Vayiftach Hashem es Pi HaAsone, VaTomer L’Bilaam Meh Asisi L’Cha Ki Hikisani Zeh Shalosh Regalim” “And Hashem opened the donkey’s mouth and it said to Bilaam, “What have I done to you, that you beat me these three times?” All of the commentators go to great lengths to explain the incident of the talking donkey. One of the most common answers given is in order to show the strength and might of the Almighty. God decides to change the nature of His creations, so much so until He opens up the mouth of the donkey to speak. This is an act of superiority in showing Bilaam and his followers that the entire world is run by God. Hashem does this in order to prevent Bilaam from cursing the Jews.
There are two questions I would like to pose. One, why did Hashem have to discourage Bilaam from cursing the Jews? The Jewish people are a blessed people that should not be affected by the curse of anyone especially from a wicked man like Bilaam. Second, why did Hashem use a talking donkey as a messenger to Bilaam?
I believe the answer to both questions is the uniqueness of human speech. The first question of why Hashem even had to say anything to Bilaam is because Hashem cannot stand to have negative words flow into His world without being countered. More than that, Hashem felt that the words of curse will end up being words of blessing. As to the second question of why the mouth of a donkey? True Hashem could have used any method of communication to Bilaam, but rather than using an angel or some other sign, Hashem chooses the mouth of a lowly animal to teach us a lesson that even if a lowly animal like a donkey can speak properly, how much more so a human being, who is created in the image of God, must learn to speak properly. In Bereishis, Hashem clearly defines and separates Adam Harishon from the rest of creation with the ability of human speech. Talking is not just making noise with our mouths, but rather a holy act in imitating Hashem. Hashem is giving us the lesson of the importance and beauty that the power of speech brings to the world.
When people fight with each other, there might be many things being said, but nothing is being communicated from one to the other. If families are raising their voices on top of each other, there’s a lot of noise, but zero communication. When nations are shooting at each other, the words of diplomacy are being shut out. The world is truly lacking in the ability to communicate ideas and reason from one side to another. If we would be able to communicate properly, then all of the attempted curses will turn into blessings and we will not only act as a lowly human being, but rather emulate and live in the image of Hashem.
Ah Gut Shabbos,
Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky
One of the most important lessons in life is to remember that we are not just watching the game of life but rather we are the actors themselves! How often it is do we think that everything bad that happens in life is “for the other guy” but not me. We somehow remove ourselves from the fact that we are also finite within this world.
I was thinking the other day that I work and get paid for me doing the job. But has it ever occurred to someone, that maybe someone is paying your employer just to give you a job and really they are paying your salary? Who knows, maybe it’s all a set-up in order to make me “think” that it is my hard work and effort that got me the job and that I continue to get paid.
Imagine, one day the sustenance and support stops, and only then do we realize that it was coming from someplace else and it really wasn’t “me” who was really making it happen.
We know that for the years that the Jews wandered in the desert, they were provided three things in the merit of three Tzadikim. It was because of Moshe that we had the manna, Aharon brought the Ananei Hakavod/The clouds of glory and Miriam brought forth water from her well. In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Chukas, both Miriam and then Aharon die, as a result the well dried up and the clouds disappeared. There is a question as to why the Jewish people did not cry and eulogize Miriam when she died? The Sefer Simchas Higayon answers that in reality the well stopped giving forth water BECAUSE the Jews did not mourn properly for Miriam. But it started to give water again in the merit of Aharon and Moshe. Unfortunately, because the water resumed after a short while, the Jewish people did not feel the impact of where and from whom the water source was from. I am sure that after so many years, the Jews took it for granted, and forgot in whose merit they benefited from all those years. In fact they may have thought it was in their own merits that they enjoyed the manna, water and protection of the clouds. Then again when Aharon died, the clouds disappeared for only a short while, and resumed in the merit of Moshe Rabbeinu. It was only until Aharon, Miriam and Moshe died did they remember that it was in the merits of those righteous individuals and not themselves that we enjoyed the Manna, Clouds and water. All of a sudden, reality is brought forth and opened up before their eyes.
It is only so clear when the source, the hand that was giving is no longer, that we realize someone behind the scenes is pulling the strings.
Our problem is that we tend to forget that EVERYTHING we have is coming from another source and it is not MY doing but rather from Hashem. We go through life thinking that it is we who are doing everything and even when the true source is sometimes cut off, a new source of merit replaces it. Hashem provides us with everything, for reasons that only He knows. At times we deserve it on our own, and other times because of others. Let us never forget the place that Bracha/Blessing comes from.
We are not in control but rather we are being controlled. There are things happening behind the scenes, and our objective is to remember that Hashem/God is pulling ALL the strings.
Ah Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky
Shlomo Hamelech writes in Mishlei ” chachmas Isha Bansa Beisa”. It’s the wisdom of the woman that builds the home. We see this illustrated in the most obvious way in this weeks parsha, Korach. The Gemara in Sanhedrin relates to us the conversations that two couples had. The first was Korach and his wife and the second Owne ben Peles and his wife. Korach’s wife instigated the rebellion of Korach against Moshe. She claimed Moshe was guilty of nepotism in not only appointing himself king, but his brother Aharon to be the Kohen Gadol the High Priest who would receive gifts from the nation. Furthermore he appointed Aaron’s sons to be the deputy Kohein. Korach himself a Levi of higher stature and greater wealth was egged on by his wife to challenge Moshe. Korach who was probably one of the wealthiest men at the time would eventually lose it all and be swallowed up in the ground. The other conversation between Owne Ben Peles and his wife went as follows. “What difference does it make weather you follow Moshe or Korach, in either case you are only going to be the student not the master. Urging her husband and eventually convincing him to remove himself from Korach and his followers and to remain loyal to Moshe. She did this in a remarkable act of putting her shame at risk by acting in a manner that would be castigated by others. Thereby Korach’s followers would want to kick out Owne for being married to such an immodest woman. Owne who slept through this scene ended up being saved physically in this world and spiritually in the world to come.
Recently, someone asked me the obvious question, “how do I know when to listen to my wife and when not to”? I think that in our day in age we have a clearer picture of right and wrong and not such a great challenge as in the case of Owne. The over simplified answer is if your wife tells you to go to the casino then don’t listen but if she tells you to go Daven or learn in Shul then you should run there. There are a few scenarios that are obvious and we (men) should take heed from the individuals who actually build the home.
As the old cliché goes “it takes two to tango”. The wives and women in our lives who are the builders of the home must feel that responsibility that rests with them. Children will usually follow their greatest role models, their parents. Mothers and fathers must realize that their sons and daughters are looking to them for positive behavior. This isn’t always successful, there are other outside factors that we need to contend with. At least let’s do what we CAN control, and that is we the parents and the environment of our homes.
Let us not be swallowed up by society, but rather stand up as Moshe & Aharon did against Korach and his 250 followers.
If I may add a Bracha/Blessing to this week’s Dvar Torah.
A Bracha to a young woman who started to build her new home with her new husband. They should take the words of Shlomo Hamelech of “Chochmas Isha Bansa Beisa” and the words of Shlomo’ father David Hamelech that the wife is the Akeres Habyis/ the mainstay of the Jewish home and fulfill them to build a Bayis Neeman B’Yisroel. To Yehudis (nee Bogopulsky) and Yaacov Kaplan on their wedding this past week, you should follow the words of Dovid and Shlomo Hamelech as you build your personal kingdoms, may you be Zocheh to build a Bayis Neeman B’Yisroel. Mazal Tov
Ah Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky
I had an eye opening experience as I travelled to New York last week for a wedding. Heading out on the Jet Blue red eye I realized I did not have headphones for the flight. Those who are familiar with Jet Blue know they sell headphones for two dollars that are in a bin at the gate. It works on the honor system and all I had was a five dollar bill. I asked the attendant at the gate for change and she said “oh don’t worry just take a head set “not making me pay for them. As I was holding my five dollar bill in my hand I went to take out my “free set “. At that moment I felt dozens of eyes staring at me perhaps thinking that I was stealing the headphones, as they were unaware of the attendant’s permission. (I was also unsure of weather or not the attendant had the authority to let people take, maybe yes maybe not). At this point I put the headphones back in the bin and actually waited for someone else to purchase a set and with their two dollars, made some change and deposited my five dollar bill. (It actually ended up costing me three dollars for this ordeal) I went over to the attendant an explained the concern I had of the “way it would look” and therefore did not take her up on her offer but nevertheless, thanked her.
The second experience I had was waiting for my luggage back in San Diego after a grueling thirty-six hour turn-around venture to New York for a wedding. After retrieving messages on the phone and returning a phone call or two I approached the carousel to get a better view of the luggage popping out onto the belt. With my phone glued to one ear, I heard from my other ear a woman talking out loud and saying “how rude some people are by just cutting in front of others”, whereby she moved a bit further down. I did not push or shove anyone, or do anything more or less than other people do when they try to retrieve their luggage from a carousel. Nevertheless, in her mind I did something wrong and therefore it was a clear Chillul Hashem on my part! I immediately hung up and walked over to the woman and I apologized and said she was absolutely correct and I was sorry. She was extremely satisfied that I apologized and more so surprised that I made the effort to do so.
The Meraglim/spies were sent out to check out the land of Israel. What was the source of their sin? The commentaries challenge and ask “how was it that such men of great stature sinned and caused an entire nation to sin”? The underlying reason was a lack of emunah/faith in God. They had heard about the giants living in the land and the huge fruits that its trees produced. They questioned their own level of spirituality and determined that they were not worthy of the miracles that would be necessary in order to conquer the land. Yehoshua and Kalev responded to them by saying that in previous situation in the dessert we also did not deserve to be successful and victorious against our enemies. Hashem nevertheless found reason to give the Jews the benefit and gave them salvation despite the fact they may not have deserved it. This time they argued will be no different. Going into Eretz Canaan, Hashem will create the miracles necessary to defeat the giants and capture Israel.
Both the ten spies and the other two, Yehoshua and Kalev both saw the same identical situation but came out with different results. Yehoshua and Kalev chose to view the promise that Hashem made to our forefathers and this conquering of Israel was to take place now. While the ten spies chose to see the situation as we are not deserving of Hashem’s kindness and mercy because we are not Tzadikim, which is a pre-requisite to enter and conquer the land.
Same situation but with two vantage points can change history. How do we see a situation and how are we seen in a situation. We are to look upon every scenario in a favorable way for the Jewish people and not in a denigrating fashion as the world views us. We do not have to look further than this past week’s events in the waters off the Gaza shore. We see a Flotilla and must act in a certain way to defend ourselves and the rest of the world chooses to see it completely different in their eyes. A Jew’s responsibility is to view a situation and not only act appropriately in our eyes but also through the eyes of the world.
A Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky
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