In this week’s Parshah, [Parshas Balak], the King of Moav, [whose name is] Balak, seeks to employ the services of a sorcerer and prophet named Bilaam in order to curse the Jews. Though given several ...

Balak is a doozy of a parsha. There are curses and blessings, yet another anti-Semitic ruler and … a talking donkey (not voiced by Eddie Murphy, but by God). This parsha is the perfect example of what ...

There is a clear parallel between Balak and events in the Book of Exodus. In both narratives, kings (Pharaoh of Egypt and Balak of Moab), alarmed about the success of the Jewish People, conspire to ...

Why would we want a blessing from Bila'am?? This week we find the famous story of Balak calling over Bila'am in order to curse Am Yisrael, and Bila'am ends up Blessing Am Yisrael instead. As we know, ...

Something does not add up in the geopolitical actions of Moab’s King Balak. He seems to be acting in contrast to the Moabian interest. The arch rival of the Moabians is not the Israelis – it is the ...

Halacha prohibits causing pain to animals. There is a Talmudic discussion as to whether this prohibition stems from Torah or is Rabbinic in origin. (B.M. 32) The consensus of Poskim is צער בעלי חיים ...

To move through life with a devotion to reason alone is to be blind. Bilaam thought himself enlightened because of the great prophetic powers with which he was endowed. Miracles are decisive. They ...

There is a holiday in Judaism known as Yom Kippur. This translates into English as Day of Atonement or Day of Forgiveness. This holiday is most famous for its being a fast day. On this holiday, Jews ...

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Parashat Pinchas begins with a continuation of the narrative of Israel’s immoral behavior found at the conclusion of Parashat Balak. That behavior was induced by Balaam, the heathen prophet hired by ...