THE TORAH READING FOR 16 TAMUZ 5781 JUNE 25-26, 2021

THE EARLY SESSIONS: BOOK 4 OF THE SETH MATERIAL

“Those who will not see, will not see. And those who will not listen, they will not listen.”

 

PARSHA

From Reform Judaism https://reformjudaism.org/torah/portion/balak

Balak (בָּלָק – Hebrew for “Balak”, a name) – Numbers 22:2−25:9

Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. – Numbers 22:2

SUMMARY

• Balak, the king of Moab, persuades the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. However, Balaam blesses the Children of Israel instead and prophesies that Israel’s enemies will be defeated. (22:2-24:25)
• God punishes the Israelites with a plague for consorting with the Moabite women and their god. The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite man and his Midianite woman. (25:1-9)

HAFTARAH

Micah 5:6-6:8

From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balak_(parsha)

Connection between the haftarah and the parashah

In the haftarah in Micah 6:5, Micah quotes God’s admonition to the Israelites to recall the events of the parashah, to “remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him.” The verb that the haftarah uses for “answer” (עָנָה‎, ‘anah) in Micah 6:5 is a variation of the same verb that the parashah uses to describe Balaam’s “answer” (וַיַּעַן‎, vaya’an) to Balak in the parashah in Numbers 22:18 and 23:12. And the first words of Balaam’s blessing of Israel in Numbers 24:5 “how goodly” (מַה-טֹּבוּ‎, ma tovu), are echoed in the haftarah’s admonition in Micah 6:8 of “what is good” (מַה-טּוֹב‎, ma tov) in God’s sight, namely “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

The Gemara read the closing admonition of the haftarah, “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God,” as one of several distillations of the principles underlying the Torah. Rabbi Simlai taught that God communicated 613 precepts to Moses. David reduced them to eleven principles,…  Isaiah reduced them to six principles,… Micah reduced them to three principles,… The Gemara interpreted “to do justly” to mean maintaining justice; “to love mercy” to mean rendering every kind office, and “walking humbly before your God” to mean walking in funeral and bridal processions. And the Gemara concluded that if the Torah enjoins “walking humbly” in public matters, it is ever so much more requisite in matters that usually call for modesty.

STRUGGLING WITH TORAH

From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balak_(parsha)

BALAK (בָּלָק‎ — Hebrew for “Bālāq”, name of a king of Moab) – Num. 22:2-25:9

In the parashah, Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, tries to hire Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam’s donkey speaks to Balaam, and Balaam blesses Israel instead. The name “Balak” means “devastator”, “empty”, or “wasting”. The name apparently derives from the sparsely used Hebrew verb (balak), “waste or lay waste.” There are no derivations of this verb besides this name.

[The triennial reading is Numbers 22:39-23:26. It covers the altars and sacrifices that Balak has Balaam build and offer including on top of Mount Pisgah. God appears to Balaam and tells him what to say. Balak asks Balaam at least not to bless the Israelites but Balaam replies that he must do as God directs him.]

REFLECTION – Abuse

From Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balak_(parsha)

Rabbi Diane Aronson Cohen of Temple Ohev Shalom in Colonia, New Jersey, wrote that the story of Balaam and his [she-]donkey in Numbers 22:21-34 provides an important model of an abuser venting misdirected anger in verbal abuse and physical violence. Cohen noted that the recipient of the abuse finally decided that she had had enough and stopped the abuse by speaking up. Cohen taught that we learn from the donkey that if we are on the receiving end of abuse, we have an obligation to speak out against our abuser.

[According to Dr. Samuel Caron, President of Temple Kol Hamidbar, “the incidence of abuse has increased significantly during the pandemic.” While there are many types and indicators of abuse, emotional or psychological abuse is among the most difficult to discern.]

From WebMD https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/signs-emotionally-abusive-relationship

Emotional abuse is a form of domestic violence. Emotionally abusive relationships do not always include physical violence, but psychological abuse can be a precursor to physical harm in a relationship. Other names for emotional abuse include mental abuse and psychological abuse.

Emotional abuse is generally considered any harmful abusive behavior that is not physical. A relationship becomes emotionally abusive when the pattern occurs repeatedly over time. One or two incidents may just be a bad fight. However, several incidents create the dynamic of an abusive relationship. It may include the following:

• Aggressive verbal communication
• Verbal threats
• Manipulative and controlling behavior
• Humiliation in front of friends or family
• Name-calling, insults, and put-downs
• Silent treatment
• Gaslighting
• Isolating you from others

The results of being in an emotionally abusive relationship may include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Suicidal ideation
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

[If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these behaviors or feeling the results of such behaviors, there is safe and free help available. The Arizona Department of Economic Security provides resources and assistance. Here are some useful hotlines:]

From the National Domestic Violence Hotline http://www.thehotline.org:

1-800-799-7233

Arizona Domestic Violence Hotline

1-602-263-8900

From the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

1-800-273-8255

Emergency number

911

[If you are having suicide ideation, have the means and a plan, please call the hotline immediately and speak to someone. Seeing a counselor is highly recommended.]

FOR OUR COUNTRY p.516

THUS SAYS ADONAI, This is what I desire: to unlock the fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of lawlessness; to let the oppressed go free, to break off every yoke. Share your bread with the hungry, and take the wretched poor into your home. When you see the naked, give clothing, and do not ignore your own kin.

O GUARDIAN of life and liberty, may our nation always merit Your protection. Teach us to give thanks for what we have by sharing it with those who are in need. Keep our eyes open to the wonders of creation, and alert to the care of the earth. May we never be lazy in the work of peace; may we honor those who have [served, suffered or] died in defense of our ideals. Grant our leaders wisdom and forbearance. May they govern with justice and compassion. Help us all to appreciate one another, and to respect the many ways that we may serve You. May our homes be safe from affliction and strife, and our country be sound in body and spirit. Amen.

FOR HEALING

We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of abuse, brutality, conflicts, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence especially against all minority communities including us, and war; for all those at home alone or lonely; for all those in need of physical, emotional, and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!

YAHRZEITS/ANYOS

We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim (30 days since burial); those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of brutality, conflict, disease, natural disasters, pandemics, tragedies, violence of all kind, and war.

This coming week, the 16^th through the 22^nd of Tamuz, we lovingly remember:

 Those victims of the Sho’ah (Holocaust) who died at this time of year.

“ZICHRONAM LIV’RACHAH” – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE FOR BLESSING.

TORAH STUDY AND SHAZOOM

We will meet as usual at the regular times for Torah Study and Shazoom this evening, Friday, June 25, 2021.

Zoom continues updating its security and performance features. Making sure you have the latest version of Zoom, please join us online this evening:

Topic: Torah Study – Triennial Reading Num. 22:39-23:26

Time: June 25, 2021 06:00 PM Arizona

and/or

Shazoom – Erev Shabbat Service

Time: June 25, 2021 07:30 PM Arizona

To join the Torah Study and/or Shazoom click on the following link [you may need to copy it into your browser]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/72510500854?pwd=Z3VQZWF4U1BBZytNYmh3aHFTWkFDZz09

Meeting ID: 725 1050 0854

Passcode: 4NrMk0

Hint: The last character of the password is the number zero.

Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat!

-Ruben