This page presents insights by Rabbi Tuvia Bolton on the weekly Torah portion.
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Chukat-Balak - 5769
This week's Torah portion(Balak)tells the bizarre story of an evil sorcerer called Bilam who almost destroyed the entire Jewish people (G-d forbid).
This seems to contradict everything Judaism believes in: that G-d is good, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, creates and enlivens all being constantly and 'chose' the Jews as HIS People.
Why does the TorAH tell us this story?
Similarly, this Shabbat will mark the 82nd anniversary of the miraculous release of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, on the 12th and 13th of Tammuz 5687 (1927) from certain death in Soviet prison. Why did G-d allow the evil, immoral Communists to threaten such a holy, selfless man?
To understand this, here are two stories.
The first is about the Holy Rebbe of Kloisenberg; Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstram, who passed away fifteen years ago.
Rabbi Halberstram went through the holocaust and although he lost his wife, all his eleven children and over 250 members of his family to the Nazis, miraculously he was not killed. But throughout the ocean of torture, disease and death he, against all odds, remained a beacon of light and optimism for all those around him.
An example is given by Rabbi Aba Halperin who related how he personally saw with his own eyes the Rebbe do a miracle that saved him and thousands of others from certain death.
He and the Rebbe were two of a work force of 3,000 Jews that the Germans took from the death camp Birkinau in 1944 to clean the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto. The work was backbreaking, almost non-stop and they were guarded closely lest they try to rest. Escape was out of the question.
Then, early one blisteringly hot summer morning, the Germans told all the workers to line up in rows of three and march; they were moving out and had to move fast.
The Russians were closing in on Warsaw and the Germans didn't want to leave anyone behind, live or dead, for them when they arrived.
The heat was unbearable, the Jews could barely stand no less walk but it made no difference to the Germans. Making progress and marching in line were their only interests. They all had rifles and enough ammo and cold cruelty to kill everyone. Dogs and Nazis were barking everywhere.
Anyone that stepped out of line, even one step, was immediately shot. It was especially awful when they passed a river or a brook. The thirst was so intense that the sight of water simply drove some people crazy and, unable to hold themselves back, instinctively made a move toward the water and were instantly riddled with bullets before everyone.
The Rebbe ordered all those around him to pass the word that no one was to step out of line for any reason and promised that there would be water. But when the second morning of marching arrived and water didn't arrive, the complaints, moaning and thirst became unbearable. Everyone felt it was better to die quickly from a gunshot then slowly and painfully from thirst. It was simply impossible to not to break ranks.
The Rebbe said to pass the word that if everyone stays in line he promises that in the evening he personally will provide water for each and every Jew.
Near sunset the Nazis told everyone to lie down in the road to sleep. It was impossible to march at night because it would be too easy for people to escape in the darkness, but there was no water.
The people that the Rebbe told to spread the word came to him and demanded the miracle. "Where is the water?! People are dying! The Rebbe said that we would have water.'
The Rebbe answered, "Each of you has a spoon, right? (the Germans gave each Jew a crude spoon to eat the 'soup' when apportioned).
"Tell each person to take his spoon and dig in the ground where he is and they will find water." The road was totally dry surrounded by open fields and no trace of water as far as the eye could see.
But lo and behold! Each one of the people dug with their spoons in the place they were, and...a miracle!! Each one found water and was saved!
Years later in Israel when the Rebbe spoke at the grand opening of the Kloisenburg Synagogue in Tel Aviv he told this story and then pointed to Rabbi Aba Halperin and added to the crowd, "And if you don't believe me you can ask Rabbi Aba - he was there." (Shaa Tova weekly magazine #309).
The second story occurred some 200 years ago in the city of Rimanov. A large garrison of some 200 Austrian soldiers descended on the Jewish section of city and declared that they were considering making it their base for several months at least. Every house was to supply food and lodging for at least two soldiers until further notice.
This decree, as innocent as it may seem, really spelled disaster for the Jews. Besides the damage and loss that the Jews would incur in home and property, it meant that their sons and daughters would be constantly in contact with these uncouth animals which would weaken and threaten their connection to Judaism.
A meeting of the city elders was called at the home of their holy leader Rabbi Mendel of Rimanov to decide what to do to avert this terrible decree. They spoke for several hours, accepting some ideas and rejecting others until suddenly one of the more experienced elders had a brainstorm revelation. He smiled, cleared his throat, stood and said:
"My friends, I don't think we have much to worry about! I know a little about being a soldier. I myself was one for some five years and I know that when troops make camp, one of their greatest necessities is a place to keep their weapons. They need a large, strong, dry building to use as an arsenal. And there is no such building here!
That's right. Just think of it; the biggest building we have is our Synagogue and it certainly does not meet the qualifications of an arsenal: The walls are cracked, the roof leaks, the doors are broken. For sure, no self respecting commander would use it! I mean, of course we should pray, give charity and try to give a few bribes to the commander and all, but what I'm saying is that our Shul will certainly convince them to leave. "
Everyone was quiet, the speaker sat down and all eyes turned to the Rebbe.
He closed his eyes for a minute or so, opened them, looked around and began to speak. "My decision is, we must take all the money we have saved up and repair the Synagogue! Reinforce the walls, replace the roof and the doors and the place must be entirely painted inside and out! It is our only chance."
The elder that just spoke about the arsenal was speechless. The Rebbe either didn't understand him, didn't hear him or was simply committing suicide! He was doing the exact opposite! He was destroying their only chance!
But no one asked questions. The Rebbe had never been wrong. Workers were hired, materials were purchased and in just two days time the repairs had been completed and the Synagogue looked as fit and sturdy as a fortress!
The next day the officers in charge of the troops talked it over and decided that the Rimanov Synagogue was too small for their needs. One hour later there was not one soldier left in the town!
Of course the Jews were overjoyed and at the thanksgiving celebration someone asked the Rebbe for an explanation. Why did he decide to fix the Shul? Why did he rely on miracles?
Reb Mendel replied. "It was no miracle. When I heard of the decree I asked myself 'why'? What sin could it be that we did to deserve such a terrible curse? And I couldn't find anything wrong. In Rimanov, thank G-d, we learn Torah, pray, give charity and do all the commandments. But then when someone talked about how our Shul (Synagogue) was in ruins I understood that that was the cause. I knew we had to do something quickly.
And, thank G-d, I was right! As soon as the Shul was fixed our problems disappeared! (Adapted from Words of Wit and Wisdom, by Shmuel Himelstein)
This answers our questions: The reason that G-d allowed Bilam to curse the Jews was in order to transform his curses to a blessing.
Indeed, this, according to teachings of Kabala and Chassidut is the 'reason' that G-d created the entire universe: G-d wants there to be a world where sin is possible in order for us to transform that possibility into perfect good.
Just as the terrible conditions in our two stories were the cause of great miracles and brought many Jews to a greater appreciation of the Creator.
And the Communists were able to threaten the Rebbe so the Rebbe could transform it all to a miraculous blessing. (Indeed, because of his self-sacrifice, Communism eventually fell and an unprecedented awakening in Russian Jewry has begun).
It is all a preparation for a time when, in a more absolute and permanent way, all the bitterness and selfishness in the world will be transformed to sweetness and brotherhood.
Sounds a bit fantastic, but it is one of the basic foundations of Judaism; that Moshiach will teach all mankind to make heaven on earth!
It all depends on our efforts and prayers. Every time we transform selfish thoughts, speech and action to comply with the plan of the Torah we get a step closer to....
Moshiach NOW!
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