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
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