Commentary on Parashat Chukat-Balak, Numbers 19:1 - 25:9
For complete text in English and Hebrew, click here: Numbers 22:2-25:9
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.
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Click here for a summary of 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 |
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| Seeing Their Faces But Not Their Doors Alana Suskin, socialaction.com |
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From the Denominations |
Pluralism and Outreach
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| Spirit Strength Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, JTS
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Open Your Eyes
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| The Place From Which We Pray Rabbi Aaron Gruman, Orthodox Union |
Balaam Versus Pinhas Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Jewish Outreach Initiative
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| Instructed to Curse, Inspired to Bless Dr. Reuven Kimmelman, CLAL |
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Family and Fun
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| Parashat Balak for Families Torah Topics for Today |
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| Temptation Torah Topics for Today |
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| Jealousy Torah Topics for Today |
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| Parshat Balak Quiz Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies |
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| Parshat Balak Challah Julie Seltzer |
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Torah
Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.
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