In this week’s Parsha, Balak, we learn a practical and crucial lesson. Bila’am himself, the nations’ greatest prophet, saddles his own donkey in order to attempt to curse B’nai Yisroel (Bamidbar 22:21). Rashi there writes that Hashem acknowledged Bila’am’s dedication and zeal to curse the people--putting aside his own extreme arrogance, and undertaking a task reserved for menial workers. However, Hashem exclaimed “Rasha! Avraham Avinu preceded you, when he saddled his own donkey as a 137 year-old man in order to take Yitzchak to the Akeida.” Accordingly, Bila’am’s “Lishma”--his enthusiasm and devotion to do the aveira--was superseded and overcome by Avraham’s love and sincerity in performing his particular mitzvah.
There is a great lesson to be drawn here. We must be a step ahead, and proactive in our mitzvah performance. In war, one wins only by taking the offensive, and will not succeed merely by demonstrating great defensive maneuvers, no matter how valuable and important they may be. This being said, we must realize that we cannot wait simply for mitzvos to come to us--we should seek out mitzvos to perform. It is frightening to think about what could have happened if Avraham Avinu had not “made the first move.” This same concept is reflected in Megillah 14A, where Chazal advise us that our donations of Shekalim to the Bais HaMikdash preempted and overcame Haman’s exorbitant 10,000 talents of silver, saving K’lal Yisroel from extinction.
Today, let us try to demonstrate how we, in our own personal lives, can advance those Shekalim, or even saddle that donkey, in order to demonstrate and improve our special relationship with Hashem. It would be best to pick a “Mes Mitzvah”--a mitzvah that you feel is neglected by you or others around you--yet should and could be performed by you--even if, at first blush, it may not seem easy.
Think for a few moments. Is it making a private “Shidduch meeting” with your friends to think about those who are single? Is it to start a new Gemach in your neighborhood? Is it to make sure to compliment at least one person a day every day for the next 30 days? Is it to close your eyes when you say the name of Hashem when reciting a brocha before and after food? Is it to make sure that you have learned at least something--a Pasuk, a Mishna, a Vort, after Shacharis and Maariv? Is it to go over to the poor person and give him Tzedaka before he comes to you? ...
We, too, can act like our forefather Avraham Avinu, and like our forefathers who donated the Shekalim. We, too, can bring success we so desperately need to our generation and to all future generations as well! All we need to do is take action! Now! Today!
Additional interesting note: In this week’s Parsha, we find the Pasuk that one recites upon entering a Shul “Ma Tovu Ohalecha” (Bamidbar 24:5). At first blush, it may seem strange to us that we recite a Pasuk first expressed by Bila‘am as we enter our Shul for the first time in the day. However, upon reflection, we must realize that all of the brochos in tomorrow’s Parsha are really the mirror image of the intense klalos--the sincere and penetrating curses--that Bila’am really intended to give to Klal Yisroel. Hashem, in turn, flipped and reversed these klalos into brochos. They undoubtedly retained their extreme potency and poignancy. Our Shuls are places of intense brocha! Every time we enter a Shul and recite this verse, we should have in mind the great brocha that Hashem has bestowed upon us--a Sanctuary of Kedusha and Dveykus B’Hashem!
Important Numbers
