PE Progressive Jewish Congregation

✡️ This week’s Parashat is read on 27 June

✡️ Parashat Balak is read from Numbers: 22:2 - 25:9. Balak means “ devastate ” or
“ to lay to waste “

The Israelites were now in the last stage of their journey in entering the Promised Land

Balak who was the king of the Moab, was frightened by what happened to the Amorites so he sent his advisors to obtain the services of Balaam, who was a great magician and a pagan prophet, living in the city of Pethor in Mesopotamia to come and curse the Israelites

Balak’s advisors pleaded with Balaam to please come and curse this people, who had reached his borders

The speaking donkey

✡️ Initially Balaam refused the request of King Balak, as Ha’shem had told him not to go. However his greed got the better of him, as he was overwhelmed with the thought and lure of great wealth and ambition

Balaam set out on his donkey and travelled to the Plains of Moab and was instructed by Balak to curse the Israelites from three specific vantage, giving Balaam a clear line of sight to make the curses more potent

Three times the donkey turned aside and three times Balaam beat his donkey. The donkey had seen the Angel of the Lord standing directly in the road and blocking the path

Ha’shem had miraculously given the donkey the ability to speak and the donkey asked Balaam why he was beating her.

Balaam repeatedly argued back to the donkey until his eyes were opened and he saw the Angel of the Lord

Why a female donkey ? Female animals are considered to be more nuturing and protective and using a female donkey was more reliable and because of the cautious nature and perception of danger, the donkey saw what Balaam could not see

✡️ Ha’shem had opened the eyes of Balaam when he saw the Angel, and he was humbled and instead of cursing the Israelites, Balaam blessed them “ How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwelling places, O Israel “

✡️ In a modern context, we know the differences between right and wrong, don’t compromise your values and kindness to look successful to others, don’t be blinded by social status and financial gain which can harm others or goes against good values

✡️ Pause before you react, don’t shout and belittle those you think are lower or easier to manipulate. Stop and think, be cautious and hold the thought that a rage of anger makes it impossible to see the bigger picture

These delays may actually be protecting you from a bigger problem you cannot see

Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ Count your Blessings, not your Curses

✡️ This weeks’s Torah portion is Parashat Naso, it is the 35th portion and is read from the second book of Numbers: 4:21 - 7:89, it is the longest portion in the entire Torah: Naso means “ count “

✡️ Focusing on counting your blessings helps build new pathways, and remaining positive boosts happiness and peace. When you actively count your blessings, you will notice opportunities you otherwise would have missed

✡️ Counting your curses on the other hand only multiplies them and in turn increases the hostility and distress you feel. When you focus on your curses, you build up envy and resentment

✡️ When you count your blessings, it reminds you of all the good things in your life, and it should give you strength to solve your problems and rather appreciate what you have, than mourn what you lack

✡️ When you count your blessings, you are following in the ways of Ha’Shem, as everything which Ha’Shem creates has a purpose and is rooted in faith and goodness

✡️ In the Priestly Blessings which are found in this portion, Ha’Shem says “ They shall bestow My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them “

✡️ When the spies returned from the Land of Israel, and cried and complained about the “curse of the giants”, Ha’Shem said: “you wept for no reason, so I will give you a reason to weep”

✡️ The Chassidic have a saying “ Think good, and it will be good “ Don’t allow yourself to be trapped in a mindset of curses, as this is what you will experience, and you will live a life devoid of any blessings

✡️ Count your Blessings, Lift your head and count the good

✡️ Forget your “faribels” and grievances, forget your sense of injury over a slight and forget your resentments of others, rather look past the negatives and focus only on the good

✡️ Good Shabbos ❤️❤️

✡️ Parashat Emor is read on 2 May from Leviticus 21:1 to 24:23 and means “speak”

Emor serves as a guide to holiness, and is one of the more well known portions of the Torah which lists the entire Jewish calendar

✡️ This portion also lists the laws and rules which we given to the priests in order to keep them pure. The priests were also given rules as whom they could marry, to not go near a dead body unless it was close family, and they were commanded to tend to the lightning the lamps from night to morning

✡️ In modern times, Emor focuses on intentional living - which is managaging ones time to prevent burnout, also to be mindful of ones actions and speech, which are qualities we can bring into our daily lives

✡️ We learn that holiness is not just for the priests but for all of us, and we further learn that holiness connects people, place and time

✡️ Set boundaries, and move from chaos to a santified place, making time to rest and recharge. Use Shabbos as a time to disconnect from technology and work, find moments in the week to pause for a breath or a moment of peace, in order to recharge, by taking care of yourself

❤️ Shabbat Shalom