Balak

Numbers 22:2-25:9

Print this pagePrint this page

In this week's Torah portion, Balak, the king of Moab, asks Balaam to curse the Israelites after he sees them defeat various nations in battle. Balaam's donkey sees an angel of God and refuses to move any further. Balaam hits the donkey. God speaks through the mouth of the donkey to tell him not to curse the Israelites. Instead of cursing the Israelites, Balaam blesses them.

Click here for a summary of Balak
Click here for a summary of the Haftarah
for Balak

 balak
God speaks to Balaam
through his donkey.

 

Text Studies

Social Action and Environmentalism

The Word or the Sword?
Hillel

The Gift of Speech
Adina Gerver, AJWS

Not Seeing is the Sin
Rabbi Neal Loevinger, KOLEL

No & Maybe
Evan Wolkenstein, AJWS

No Rest(s) for the Wicked
Rabbi Laurence Edwards, URJ

Distance & Proximity
Julie Appel, AJWS


The Nature of Balaam's Prophecy
 Ilana Stein, Canfei Nesharim
 

Seeing Their Faces But Not Their Doors
 Alana Suskin, socialaction.com
 


From the Denominations

Pluralism and Outreach

Spirit Strength
Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, JTS 

Open Your Eyes
Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Women of Reform Judaism

The Place From Which We Pray
Rabbi Aaron Gruman, Orthodox Union

Balaam Versus Pinhas
Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Jewish Outreach Initiative

 

Instructed to Curse, Inspired to Bless
Dr. Reuven Kimmelman, CLAL
   

Family and Fun

Parashat Balak for Families
Torah Topics for Today

  

Parashat Balak Quiz
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

  

Parashat Balak Challah
Julie Seltzer

  

 

Return to the index of weekly Torah portions.