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

In the commentary on today’s Parasha (Balak) Michael Schneider from Jerusalem writes that the Jewish People are the most cursed people of the world. Israel has been cursed the most – after the Germans – by the entire world community, the United Nations, the UNO. It’s only that this was no longer called a curse, but, quite liberal, called Law Of Nations or UN resolution. The main thing was that it achieved it’s goal: the destruction of Israel in the name of justice by stealing Israel the right to defend itself.

This insidious UN curse now has competitors. But not by peace intention feigning, God totally ignoring representatives of the Nations. No, first of all through the (natural) German pope’s in mid-May in Israel declared idea to devide the Holy Land of God in the name of Christianity, represented by him, into two parts. And three weeks later through the once Christian minded US-Americans, represented by their moslemic President Barack Hussein Obama. Who would have thought that the Christian world one day choose spiritually a God forsaken pope and at the same time politically a Muslim as “Führer”? Uniting against the God of Israel – almost like a double pack in the curse of spiritual and secular power.

But can the man replace the God of Israel in the hearts and souls of His creation? Wake up America, wake up Rome, and throw the two Israel hater out of office! Get rid of your seduction that takes you to the death, re-elect life! “Blessed is everyone who blesses you (Israel), and cursed is everyone who curses you.” Look up to the God of Israel, praise His holy name and take the example of His holy people. See the video above, a contribution by the Director of the International Department of the Temple Institute, Rabbi Chaim Richman, a Jewish response to the Obama Cairo speech!

Let’s brake up to the God of Israel once again,
„Arise (Israel), shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee“,
Shabbat Shalom
Yourth Eric C. Martienssen

Digest of the Commentary of Michael Schneider, israel today, Jerusalem:
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 (Golan)

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.

But “God was angry because he was going” (22:22).
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! (2006) Of the 175 resolutions of the UN (UNO) Security Council, 97 were against Israel!

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.

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

See also our Currant Themes: Jewish response to Obama Cairo Speech – No Messiah, he steals Israel everything

Rabbinic Commentary: