Abstract of the Commentary by
Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
In this week’s Torah Portion we meet another childless couple: Isaac and Rebekah (25:21). We can read of several Man of God that shared the same fate like Abraham and later the parents of Joseph, Samuel and also Samson…

After 20 years of prayer, when Isaac was 60 years old, the LORD in his sovereign grace allowed Rebekah to bear twins, Jacob and Esau. Verse 22 tells us the twins “struggled within her.” God told her “two nations are in your womb … and the older shall serve the younger.” This was one promise Rebekah kept to herself until later.

We find parallels between Abraham’s life story to Isaac’s, such as the times of famine and both men lying to authorities, claiming that their wives were their sisters. Isaac did so, lying to the Philistine king in Genesis 26:7. So the lesson was not learned!

A Jewish commentary says, why was Jacob cooking lentils? It was during the Shiva (the seven-day mourning to eat lentils during the mourning period. And how old was Jacob and Esau when Abraham their grandpa passed away? They were 15 years old. Thus, the three patriarchs, Abraham, Yitzhak (Isaac) and Jacob, lived during the same period for 15 years.

But Isaac and Rebekah’s younger received the covenant blessing of promise also in following generations. Jacob even favoured Joseph’s younger sons in blessings over the older ones, so with Ephraim. While this seems unfair to man, God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7).
To the question ‘Why Jacob and not Esau?’ we find answer in our prophet portion in Maleachi 1…

Now, why did God hate Esau? Esau didn’t value God’s blessing and was ready to sell it for bread and lentil soup. Genesis 25:34 says, “So Esau despised his birthright…”

Jacob, in Hebrew is related to the word “akev” meaning “heel” (25:26). “Akov,” also related, means ‘deceitful’, like the heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9). Yes, Jacob – even if it meant receiving the blessing from God – was a deceiver (27:35) – we would even call it today a tricky manipulator. He attempted to do all in his own strength until he wrestled with God “face to face” at Peniel. From this time on, Jacob was called:

„Isra-El, or God strives (for you) “.

The same will happen to the “Sons of Jacob” as a nation, Israel will meet His Saviour and not needing anymore to “put on clothes of someone he is not”!
Esau, today, would be identified as a “real man,” the type of son who makes his father proud as a skilled hunter. Jacob, on the other hand, would be called a “mama’s boy” as a quiet guy who hung around at home.

Nevertheless, Esau was disobedient to his father taking foreign wives while Jacob obeyed his father (28:6-7). But Jacob listens to the will of his father.
Jacob received the blessing by deceiving his father with the help of his mother, but it came at a price. Although Rebekah took the curse on her (27:13), Jacob had to leave his parents’ tents to flee the wrath of his brother. There Jacob met an even greater deceiver – his future father-in-law, Laban.
That’s how the LORD works sometimes in order to humble the prideful heart/man.
“If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,” says the LORD of hosts,
“ I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.” (Malachi 2:2; from our Haftara)

Shabbat Shalom

Titlepicture © by Frank Rothert 2007 /
Retouched by God’s Sabbath International 2011

Commentary by
Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
Our Torah reading begins with Sarah’s death and ends with Abraham’s death. She was 127 years old. Abraham now set out to negotiate in typical Middle-Eastern style for a burial site. How come that our parasha Chayei Sarah means “the life of Sarah,” although it deals with the death of Sarah?
Jewish sages explain it this way: “The wicked even when they are alive are called dead, while the righteous even after they die are called alive.”

A Sabbath Song / Prayer

Abraham negotiated with Ephron, who at first flattered Abraham and told him he’d give him the Machpela Cave as a gift. When Abraham insisted on paying for it and Ephron saw his money (verse 13), Ephron’s true nature came out and he asked for 400 silver shekels! A full price!

It was good that Abraham insisted that he pay, especially for today’s political conflict in Israel. God knows that everything should be done justly and legally otherwise you are beholden to the grace of man. Israel has purchased three of her most wanted holy sites, hotly disputed until now: The cave of Machpela in Hebron; Joseph’s grave in Nablus; the grave of Joseph (Jacob bought it, as mentioned in Joshua 24:32); and the Temple site in Jerusalem (David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite mentioned in 2 Samuel 24:18-25).

In chapter 24, Abraham ordered his faithful servant, Eliezer (actually, the first matchmaker), to find a wife for his 40-year old son Isaac. Isaac needed a wife because he was very much connected to his mother (24:67), so it became for as “a comfort”. Abraham opposed a marriage with Canaanites who worshipped idols and were cursed according to Genesis 9:25 because he was faithful to his given promises and as an elected one and he knew the danger of assimilation. Abraham wanted to be sure, after all the tests he had been through in life that the blessing would continue!

When Rebekah not only offered him water but watered his camels as well, fulfilling the condition Eliezer sought in a sign, he sat and watched still wondering if she was the one (24:21). That’s like us – we so often sit skeptically without realizing that God’s promises are being answered right in front of our eyes!
By-the-way, Jacob and later Moses found their wives also at a well / fountain!!

The custom of covering the bride with a veil before the Chupah originated from Rivkah, “And she took the veil and covered herself.” – we read in verse 65.

Then we meet Rebekah’s brother, Laban, who was after success and money. He saw the benefit of Abraham’s blessing and the riches from Rebekah’s union with Isaac. We meet him again when Rebekah’s son Jacob works for him over 20 years.

In chapter 25 we read that Abraham took a second wife and had six more sons with Ketura. Then Abraham died at 175 years old. Isaac and Ishmael together buried their father at Machpela in Hebron (25:9). All three patriarchs and matriarchs are buried there except for Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife.

In our reading from the prophets in I Kings 1, we read about the last days of King David, that not unlike the story of Abraham, where the line almost went astray, in the end, because of the intervention of a mother and the king’s wife, Bathsheba, the right king, Solomon, sat on the throne.

Shabbat Shalom

Picture: © stock.xchng (SXC)

Abstact of the commentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
The backdrop of this week’s Shabbat reading is the giving of the “first fruit” of the ground “when you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance…” (Deuteronomy 26:1-2). As we can see, it is a commandment that relies on being physically located in the Land of Israel. Every time a person brought this sacrifice to the LORD, he emphasized his gratefulness for and connection to the land and people of Israel.

A real Sabbath Song, KUMI ORI:
..[Israel]“Arise, shine…

…for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you!”

The Hebrew word for “first” is reshit, which is also the first word in the Bible, leading Jewish scholars and sages to conclude in the Talmud that the universe was created because of these first fruit offerings. Moses goes on to enumerate God’s mighty deeds on behalf of Israel, including how He took “a wandering Aramean,” as he affectionately refers to Jacob in verse 5, and made out of him a vast and mighty nation and planted them in the Promised Land. He then urges the giving of thanks. “You shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you…” (26:11) Here we find a principle: True joy comes from giving our first fruits, the best of what we have, to the Lord. This leads to perfect joy. King Solomon, blessed with divine wisdom, backs up this principle in Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Solomon knew this secret.

This offering of the firstling was and should always be accompanied by prayer (26:15): “Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the land which You have given us…” It should then be followed with a remembrance to keep God’s statutes and ordinances “with all your heart and with all your soul.”

In chapter 27 we read that once the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River they were commanded to write the Law (Torah) on their hearts. In our portion in verse 8 we find an interesting ending, which in Hebrew says ba’er hetev, and which means in English: make it clear or explain it well. By this Orthodox Jews understand, in keeping with the Jewish tradition, that when the Written Law was given so was the the Oral Law, those unwritten precepts that later became the foundation of the Mishna and Talmud.

Moses added instructions before the Children of Israel (without him) cross the Jordan River. Six tribes were assembled on the mount of blessing, Gerizim, and the other six on the mount of curses, Ebal, where we find a long list of things those redeemed by the Lord are not to do (verses 15-26). In chapter 28 we find a lineup of all the blessings that will come over the people if they will hear and follow the voice of their God. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” (verse 26) This blessing is used among Jews till today, and is even framed and hanged as a blessing over homes.

But Moses knew his people and therefore he continues a much longer list of “but if you do not obey the LORD…” In this list from verse 16 to 69 we find all what one wouldn’t wish upon himself or anyone else. We read in 28:28: “The LORD will smite you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart.” Unfortunately, also verse 53 was put into effect in the History of the Jewish people, when the city of Jerusalem was sieged.

The answer, why all this will happen, is also given: “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart…” Moses continues to warn them with these words: “It shall come about that as the LORD delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the LORD will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it.” (verse 63) “In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart…” What terrible words. But in our messianic chapter in Isaiah 60 we find comfort. After all the suffering that came over the Jewish nation and what was foretold already in Moses’ time, also this promise will be fulfilled: “Arise, shine … for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you!”

Shabbat Shalom

Commentary:
We read in our weekly Torah portion about Balak, king of Moab, who was frightened by thevictorious people of Israel after they defeated the mighty Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. (Both of these battles are still remembered in daily Jewish prayers!)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insert of the GSI editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Video-Commenatry of Rabbi chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem:
“There is nothing new under the sun,” and that goes for the “new” antisemitism, and the “international community’s” exasperation with Israel’s obsession with such petty issues as sovereignty, security, viability and her continued existence as a free and independent people in their own land. Many years ago the long-time enemies of Moav, (led by Balak ) and Midian, (represented by Bilaam ), joined forces to try to erase their mutual enemy Israel. The urbane and cosmopolitan Bilaam was called in to put a politically correct face on the viciously antisemitic diatribe they were espousing…

Balak turned to spiritual powers for help: He called upon Balaam, a known seer, to curse Israel! We see that at first Balaam resisted the demands of the king, wanting to obey God. The king sent first messengers then princes to persuade him. God saw Balaam’s heart grow increasingly weak so He allowed him to go: “Rise up and go with them” (22:20). Balaam waited for the ‘green light’ from God. We read how quickly the next morning he packed his donkey and went.

God used the situation to demonstrate that he can use anyone to proclaim His word, even through a talking donkey.
Later we see that instead of a cursing, Balak had to listen to a blessing on Israel (23:11 and 25) three times. He, like Pharaoh, did not give up easily and it became a power struggle between a human ruler and the “still unknown” God of Israel.
“Blessed is everyone who blesses you (Israel), and cursed is everyone who curses you.” (24:9) However, the story shows us, that the Jewish people are the most cursed people in all history! The United Nations has passed more resolutions condemning Israel than against all other nations put together including Iraq! Of the 175 resolutions of the UN Security Council, 97 were against Israel! (figures 2006)

On the other hand, people, companies and individuals are blessed because they bless Israel whether through practical and financial help or prayer. Yes, this formula still holds good.

A classic example is seen in the history of the two parts of Germany before the reunification. East Germany (GDR) did not want to acknowledge their guilt towards the Jewish people, but West Germany did. Even the Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany ordered in 1965 compensation payments to Holocaust survivors. The blessing and the curse were obvious: West Germany prospered and became an economic super-power, while the GDR simply did not progress for a period of 40 years. Yes, we are speaking about the same “hard-working” Germans. Just look at the United States, which stands on Israel’s side most of the time and has been blessed for that.
One of Balaam’s blessings even became the introduction of a prayer: “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel” (24:5).

Let it be a word of comfort to us: God can change any ordered and planned curse into a blessing!

Shabbat Shalom

This parashat Naso tells us about to treat jealousy in a marriage, about tests between husbands and wives. Next theme is the Priestly Blessing saying (Birkat Kohanim – Numbers 6:24–26):

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insert Priestly Blessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Jewarechecha Adonai we-jischmerecha.
Yewarechecha Adonai we-yischmerecha.
Ya’er Adonai panaw elecha we-yechunekha.
Yissa Adonai panaw elecha we-yassem lecha Schalom!
May Adonai bless you and guard you
May Adonai make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you
May Adonai lift up his face onto you and give you peace

Many thousands of Jews gathered at the Kotel (the Western Wall) on the 2nd day of Chol HaMoed Pesach 5771 (the intermediate days of the Passover festival of 2011) for Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing) in accordance with the Torah’s commandment in the book of Bamidbar (Numbers) chapter 6 verse 23-27.

The ceremony has become a tradition ever since the liberation of Har HaBayit (the Temple Mount) and the rest of the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967. It is in commemoration of the Biblical obligation to visit the Holy Temple on the three annual festivals, namely, Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles).

It is also a special opportunity for many Cohanim (Jews who trace their lineage to Aaron, the first High Priest) to fulfill the Biblical obligation of blessing the nation, and for non-Cohanim to be blessed (also a Biblical obligation, according to some).

It is to be noted that the Western Wall is merely a supportive wall of the Temple Mount in which the Holy Temple itself stood. The holiday prayers emphasize our goal of returning to the Mount, and not to the courtyards around it: “Bring us to Zion Your city with joy, and to Jerusalem, the House of Your Temple, with everlasting happiness… Build Your house as at the beginning, and establish Your Temple on its foundation; show us its construction and gladden us with its rectification… and to there we will ascend and be seen and bow down before You on our three festivals…”

Watch the video commentary on this Shabbat Naso, also spelled Nasso, by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem:

Be of this world! That’s what Torah demands of us. While allowing for the nazirite experience within a limited time-frame, the essential message of Torah is to immerse ourselves in this world and to sanctify this world. This is the true purpose of man.

Shabbat Shalom

Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem:

Bechukotai, the concluding parasha of the book of Leviticus, is all about the blessings that Israel will receive when she performs G-d’s will and the “curses” or admonitions that she will incur when she doesn’t perform G-d’s will. Leviticus, more than any other of the five books of Torah, reflects how G-d wishes to be related to by man. It is only fitting then, that the book should conclude with a question posed by G-d: How does man wish to be related to by G-d? Do we want to bring G-d into our world and thereby receive His blessings? Or do we wish to relate to G-d only “casually” and thereby bring upon ourselves endless admonitions?

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commentary by
Michael Schneider, israel today, Jerusalem:

In our Torah portion, ‘Va‘Yeshev,’ last year, we discussed Joseph as a prototype of the Messiah. We saw the parallels between Messiah Ben-Joseph and the Joseph’s life. Through Joseph’s brother’s rejection, he was sent to Egypt where he attained status of being second to Pharaoh and regarded as a deity. The Egyptians also used the concept of the trinity with three Pharaoh’s. He became a stranger to his brothers because he was now ‘Egyptian’ and they could not recognize him.

David, like Joseph has a similar story. Both were shepherds and despised by their brothers. Samuel anointed David as king at 17, but it wasn’t until age 30 when he reigned over Israel. Joseph’s life in Egypt began at 17, but he didn’t sit ‘at the right hand’ of Pharaoh until 30. Both, Joseph and David, were sons from another mother, which Jewish scholars claim was the reason for David’s ‘red’ look and why “Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons…”

Chapter 38 interrupts with a different story: the deceitful affair between Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law. Judah, in the chapter before intervenes and saves his brother’s life (37:26-27). One interpretation says it’s the reason his descendants are of the royal line in the kingdom of Israel. Judah (where the word ‘Jew – yehudi’ comes from) desired for his sons to produce offspring so they could continue his forefather’s blessing.

When Judah’s oldest son, Er, passed away, his wife Tamar was given to Onan. “Lie with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother” (38:8). But, after Onan died, Judah told Tamar to go back to her father’s home until the third son Shela grew up.

Many years passed and the agreement was forgotten. But, when Tamar saw her father-in-law she sought revenge. She took off her widow’s clothes (38:14), which were a sign she was waiting for Judah to fulfill his promise, and covered her face so he couldn’t recognize her. Once protected from evil she was now covered with the mask of sin and deceit. Out of rage and revenge she dressed like a prostitute and Judah fell into ‘her snare’ (Proverbs 7).

Once her sin was made known, Judah confessed, “She is right, I am to blame.” Tamar went on to give birth to – again – twins, Peretz and Zerach (38:25 – 26). Again, the younger (Peretz) struggled to be born first, like with Esau and Jacob.

Another similarity we find is that Tamar shows Judah his three belongings: his ring, cord and staff. She says, “Recognize please…” (Hebrew haker-na; 38:25), which reminds us of the same words used in the chapter before as Judah himself deceived his father with Joseph’s coat and said: “Recognize please…” (37:32). What Judah did to his father through deceit Tamar did to him.

We can ask ourselves why the LORD allowed the marriage to be ‘legitimate’ even though it was incest and allow the heirs to be a part of the Messianic line of David? God allowed it to happen! Tamar even became one of the four ‘non-Jewish’ mothers along with Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba.

Hag Hanukkah Sameach (Hanukkah →Current Themes)

Commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:
Our Torah reading begins with Sarah’s death and ends with Abraham’s death. She was 127 years old. Abraham now set out to negotiate in typical Middle-Eastern style for a burial site. How come that our parasha Chayei Sarah means “the life of Sarah,” although it deals with the death of Sarah?
Jewish sages explain it this way: “The wicked even when they are alive are called dead, while the righteous even after they die are called alive.”

A Sabbath Song / Prayer

Abraham negotiated with Ephron, who at first flattered Abraham and told him he’d give him the Machpela Cave as a gift. When Abraham insisted on paying for it and Ephron saw his money (verse 13), Ephron’s true nature came out and he asked for 400 silver shekels! A full price!

It was good that Abraham insisted that he pay, especially for today’s political conflict in Israel. God knows that everything should be done justly and legally otherwise you are beholden to the grace of man. Israel has purchased three of her most wanted holy sites, hotly disputed until now: The cave of Machpela in Hebron; Joseph’s grave in Nablus; the grave of Joseph (Jacob bought it, as mentioned in Joshua 24:32); and the Temple site in Jerusalem (David bought the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite mentioned in 2 Samuel 24:18-25).

In chapter 24, Abraham ordered his faithful servant, Eliezer (actually, the first matchmaker), to find a wife for his 40-year old son Isaac. Isaac needed a wife because he was very much connected to his mother (24:67), so it became for as “a comfort”. Abraham opposed a marriage with Canaanites who worshipped idols and were cursed according to Genesis 9:25 because he was faithful to his given promises and as an elected one and he knew the danger of assimilation. Abraham wanted to be sure, after all the tests he had been through in life that the blessing would continue!

When Rebekah not only offered him water but watered his camels as well, fulfilling the condition Eliezer sought in a sign, he sat and watched still wondering if she was the one (24:21). That’s like us – we so often sit skeptically without realizing that God’s promises are being answered right in front of our eyes!
By-the-way, Jacob and later Moses found their wives also at a well / fountain!!

The custom of covering the bride with a veil before the Chupah originated from Rivkah, “And she took the veil and covered herself.” – we read in verse 65.

Then we meet Rebekah’s brother, Laban, who was after success and money. He saw the benefit of Abraham’s blessing and the riches from Rebekah’s union with Isaac. We meet him again when Rebekah’s son Jacob works for him over 20 years.

In chapter 25 we read that Abraham took a second wife and had six more sons with Ketura. Then Abraham died at 175 years old. Isaac and Ishmael together buried their father at Machpela in Hebron (25:9). All three patriarchs and matriarchs are buried there except for Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife.

In our reading from the prophets in I Kings 1, we read about the last days of King David, that not unlike the story of Abraham, where the line almost went astray, in the end, because of the intervention of a mother and the king’s wife, Bathsheba, the right king, Solomon, sat on the throne.

Shabbat Shalom

Picture: © stock.xchng (SXC)
If you are living in Germany, make up your mind about the Israelkongress >

Commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:
The backdrop of this week’s Shabbat reading is the giving of the “first fruit” of the ground “when you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance…” (Deuteronomy 26:1-2). As we can see, it is a commandment that relies on being physically located in the Land of Israel. Every time a person brought this sacrifice to the LORD, he emphasized his gratefulness for and connection to the land and people of Israel.

The Hebrew word for “first” is reshit, which is also the first word in the Bible, leading Jewish scholars and sages to conclude in the Talmud that the universe was created because of these first fruit offerings. Moses goes on to enumerate God’s mighty deeds on behalf of Israel, including how He took “a wandering Aramean,” as he affectionately refers to Jacob in verse 5, and made out of him a vast and mighty nation and planted them in the Promised Land. He then urges the giving of thanks. “You shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you…” (26:11) Here we find a principle: True joy comes from giving our first fruits, the best of what we have, to the Lord. This leads to perfect joy. King Solomon, blessed with divine wisdom, backs up this principle in Proverbs 3:9-10: “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Solomon knew this secret.

This offering of the firstling was and should always be accompanied by prayer (26:15): “Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the land which You have given us…” It should then be followed with a remembrance to keep God’s statutes and ordinances “with all your heart and with all your soul.”

In chapter 27…

God’s Sabbath International tries to observe common understandings between Jews and Christians – here:
…we read that once the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River (symbolic of baptism) they were commanded to write the Law (Torah) on their hearts. If we translate the situation to the spiritual realm with our personal walk with Him and the Promise Land is the promised Kingdom of Heaven, we can see the fullfillment of the New Covenant shown in Jeremiah 31: “I will put my law (torah) in their minds and write it on their hearts.” In our portion in verse 8 we find an interesting ending, which in Hebrew says ba’er hetev, and which means in English: make it clear or explain it well. By this Orthodox Jews understand, in keeping with the Jewish tradition, that when the Written Law was given so was the the Oral Law, those unwritten precepts that later became the foundation of the Mishna and Talmud.

Moses added instructions before the Children of Israel (without him) cross the Jordan River. Six tribes were assembled on the mount of blessing, Gerizim, and the other six on the mount of curses, Ebal, where we find a long list of things those redeemed by the Lord are not to do (verses 15-26). In chapter 28 we find a lineup of all the blessings that will come over the people if they will hear and follow the voice of their God. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” (verse 26) This blessing is used among Jews till today, and is even framed and hanged as a blessing over homes.

But Moses knew his people and therefore he continues a much longer list of “but if you do not obey the LORD…” In this list from verse 16 to 69 we find all what one wouldn’t wish upon himself or anyone else. We read in 28:28: “The LORD will smite you with madness and with blindness and with bewilderment of heart.” Unfortunately, also verse 53 was put into effect in the History of the Jewish people, when the city of Jerusalem was sieged.

The answer, why all this will happen, is also given: “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart…” Moses continues to warn them with these words: “It shall come about that as the LORD delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the LORD will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it.” (verse 63) “In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart…” What terrible words. But in our messianic chapter in Isaiah 60 we find comfort. After all the suffering that came over the Jewish nation and what was foretold already in Moses’ time, also this promise will be fulfilled: “Arise, shine…

…for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you!”

Shabbat Shalom

Commentary:
We read in our weekly Torah portion about Balak, king of Moab, who was frightened by thevictorious people of Israel after they defeated the mighty Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. (Both of these battles are still remembered in daily Jewish prayers!)

Balak turned to spiritual powers for help: He called upon Balaam, a known seer, to curse Israel! We see that at first Balaam resisted the demands of the king, wanting to obey God. The king sent first messengers then princes to persuade him. God saw Balaam’s heart grow increasingly weak so He allowed him to go: “Rise up and go with them” (22:20). Balaam waited for the ‘green light’ from God. We read how quickly the next morning he packed his donkey and went.

God used the situation to demonstrate that he can use anyone to proclaim His word, even through a talking donkey.
Later we see that instead of a cursing, Balak had to listen to a blessing on Israel (23:11 and 25) three times. He, like Pharaoh, did not give up easily and it became a power struggle between a human ruler and the “still unknown” God of Israel.
“Blessed is everyone who blesses you (Israel), and cursed is everyone who curses you.” (24:9) However, the story shows us, that the Jewish people are the most cursed people in all history! The United Nations has passed more resolutions condemning Israel than against all other nations put together including Iraq! Of the 175 resolutions of the UN Security Council, 97 were against Israel! (figures 2006)

On the other hand, people, companies and individuals are blessed because they bless Israel whether through practical and financial help or prayer. Yes, this formula still holds good.

A classic example is seen in the history of the two parts of Germany before the reunification. East Germany (GDR) did not want to acknowledge their guilt towards the Jewish people, but West Germany did. Even the Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of West Germany ordered in 1965 compensation payments to Holocaust survivors. The blessing and the curse were obvious: West Germany prospered and became an economic super-power, while the GDR simply did not progress for a period of 40 years. Yes, we are speaking about the same “hard-working” Germans. Just look at the United States, which stands on Israel’s side most of the time and has been blessed for that.
One of Balaam’s blessings even became the introduction of a prayer: “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel” (24:5).

Let it be a word of comfort to us: God can change any ordered and planned curse into a blessing!

Shabbat Shalom