Turning curses into blessings
Parashat Balak, this week’s parasha, contains an infamous biblical story. The king of Moab, Balak, feared the Israelite people. He sent for Balaam, a powerful prophet, to curse the Israelites. Balaam looked out across the entire Israelite camp. Imagine looking into a vast field of tents, enough to house over 1 million people. As Balaam opened his mouth to curse the Israelites, instead a blessing came out. He uttered the words that we now sing during our shabbat morning service “Mah tovu ohalecha, mishkenotecha Israel.” “How goodly are your tents Jacob, your dwellings O’ Israel?”
Balaam beautifully demonstrates the power of keeping an open mind. When was the last time you intended to do one thing and ended up doing the exact opposite? When did a curse come out of your mouth when you could have uttered a blessing?
As we enter the weekend, may we each find moments to be like Balaam, using our words to create blessings.
– Rabbi Avi Fine