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Parshas Balak - Good Eye – Good Heart

By Rabbi Paysach Diskind

Posted on 07/21/16

Parshas HaShavua Divrei Torah sponsored by
Dr. Shapsy Tajerstein, DPM - Podiatry Care.
(410) 788-6633

This week’s Parsha, Balak, presents before us the story of Bilam, the man with the world's greatest ability to curse. Bilam’s power of cursing had been used quite successfully in a remarkable military campaign by Sichon the king of Amorie against the kingdom of Moav. Before employing Bilam’s cursing services Sichon was unable to defeat Moav as hard as he tried. Once Bilam provided the necessary curse upon Moav, he succeeded.

Let us look beneath the surface to appreciate Bilam’s ability to curse and why he was so good at it.


Our Sages draw our attention to the parallel between our father Avrahum and Bilam. Regarding Avrahum the Torah says “And Avrahum awoke early and saddled his he-donkey …” By Bilam the Torah records the story “And Bilam awoke early and saddled his she-donkey …” Our Sages highlight the difference of gender between the donkeys.


The Hebrew name of donkey, Chamor, is closely related to the word chomer which means material matter. Therefore the animal donkey used as the analogy to represent the entire material world. Both Avrahum and Bilam use the donkey as their means of transportation. The difference between these two individuals is the way they relate to their donkey. Avrahum’s relationship to his donkey is limited to transportation. Their is no intimate relationship between himself and his material world, it is nothing but a vehicle. Avrahum therefore uses a male donkey, an animal with whom he can have no relationship. Bilam, on the other hand relates to his material world as part of himself. He sees himself and defines himself in terms of his material acquisition. He therefore rides a she-donkey indicating that he has a relationship with his material world.


Avrahum was appointed by HaShem to be the father of all nations. Even though he is the biological father of only the Jewish people, nevertheless, he remains the father to all nations that wish to follow his example. It is for this reason that a non-Jew who converts to Judaism can refer to Avrahum as their father because they internalized the lessons Avrahum taught the world. Bilam, too, is considered a father to the world because as the foremost prophet of the non-Jewish world his lessons had a profound impact on the world. In fact, the Mishna refers to all of mankind as being disciples of either Avrahum or of Bilam.


The Mishna therefore teaches us “Whoever has the following three qualities is considered among the disciples of Avrahum and those who have the opposite are considered the disciples of Bilam.



  1. Good eye / Jealous eye

  2. Humble soul / Conceited soul

  3. Modest desires / Grandiose desires


These three qualities are manifestations of how we relate to the material world. If I define myself by my material acquisition then my desires will be everything that is material. Any material that I am unable to acquire is a limitation of who I am. My neighbor's material, limits my greatness because that is material that I will not be able to acquire. I cannot look nicely upon the material successes of my neighbor because his material wealth is his and not mine, thereby I am shorter that he and hence I am jealous. It is a life of competition heading towards inevitable disappointment.


If I define myself by acheivements in the abstract realm, in spiritual terms, there is nothing for me to gain by material acquisition. While I will certainly need material acquisition to live, to eat and to sustain myself, it is only a vehicle by which I can achieve my greater goals in the abstract realm. I My happiness is found in understanding and in sharing. My goals are not in conflict with my neighbor’s goals. If he is a disciple of Avrahum we grow together in our understanding. Just as one candle can light a second candle without losing any of its light, so too, the spiritual capacity is not limited when it is shared with another. When two candles sit next to each other the entire room gains more light without diminishing the light of the other. And if my neighbor is a disciple of Bilam and his happiness comes with his newly acquired material, again I am happy for him in his newly achieved happiness. It may not increase my own spiritual wealth but at least I can afford to be happy for him as it did not cost me anything. My life is constant growth and understanding heading towards abundant happiness.


Perhaps we can appreciate why Bilam, the foremost prophet of the non-Jewish world, a person whose essence was connected to an exceedingly high level of spirituality excelled in cursing others. Because he was so profoundly attached to the material world any material gain that someone else had generated within him tremendous loathing. The combination of his spiritual connection and his loathing of the other person generated a most powerful curse.


HaShem told Avrahum “all the families on the earth will be blessed through you.” Avrahum, too, was on an exceedingly high level of spirituality and together with his relationship to the abstract and detachment from the material world he was the source of blessing to the entire world.


How fortunate we are to be the children of Avrahum and are blessed with the capacity to bring blessing on ourselves and on the world around us.