Parashat Chukat-Balak

Pinchas saw the relationship of an Israelite and a Midianite as a curse--but perhaps he, like Balaam, could have turned it into a blessing.

The story of King Balak and Balaam demonstrates that truly seeing others is what allows fears to dispel.

Moses' frustration and fatigue were no excuse for his refusal to accept the people's cry for help.

The Torah law about the red heifer was given because it anticipated the temporal nature and limitation of what Miriam had to offer.

He came to curse, and ended up reciting a blessing so beautiful it is prominent in our liturgy.

Balak intuited an important truth about the Israelites: Their strength was spiritual, not military.

Numbers 22:2-25:9

Numbers 19:1-22:1

Jewish sources suggest tears and tzedakah [charity] as two modern replacements for the Red Heifer.

Moses' fatal flaw is his inability to wean his people from their dependence on him.