PARSHAS Balak 5784
See The Miracles
Leora Estersohn
Director of Youth &
Family Programming
I remember a personal prayer of mine, said with utmost sincerity before taking a big step in my personal growth. When my initial efforts were successful, it felt like a miracle, nature somehow shifting to make space for this new reality.
When a miracle occurs, there is always a choice: to recognize the miracle for what it is, the hand of Hashem orchestrating events beyond the bounds of nature; or to ignore it or excuse away its very existence. There are times when a miracle can be more subtle and we need to open our eyes wide to see it. And there are times when a miracle can stand out for what it is, something so beyond the bounds of nature that it cannot easily be explained away.
Regardless of setup, each miracle invites a response from us, to look up and and use the miracle as an impetus to deepen our relationship with Hashem and continue further along our unique spiritual path, bringing us ever closer to him.
In this week’s Torah portion, the gentile prophet Bilaam is paid to use his G-d given power to curse and harm the Jewish people. On the way to do the deed, Bilaam strikes his donkey for veering off the path, and the donkey verbally defends itself, actually speaking to Bilaam. He then casually responds and engages in dialogue with the donkey!
A talking donkey? This miracle hit Bilaam between the eyes. His reaction? Nothing! He engages with the miracle as though it were a daily occurrence and does not allow it to impact his plans whatsoever. Bilaam was so arrogantly focused on a plot to build his wealth by harming the Jews, that nothing, even a straight-out miracle from G-d Himself, could make him rethink those plans. He literally did not notice it. This story is an alarm set to put us on guard.
The same thing can happen to us. If we are so focused on our own plans, convinced that there is no other way, we could literally see a talking donkey in front of us and not notice the oddity. When we instead choose to live our lives with mindfulness, looking around us to see the constant messages Hashem is sending us, we will notice the miracles constantly sent our way. And we will be able to use them as signposts on life’s journey.
-Message based on a talk by Rabbi Avraham Stulberger on Parshas Balak
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