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ב"ה

Balak 5765 - July 15, 2005

The Fragile Veneer of Evil

On the one hand, he’s declared to be nothing less than the equal of Abraham (in passion) and Moses (in prophecy); on the other, he’s described as the most perverse, greedy and corrupt human being ever to walk the face of the earth!
Parshah
Balak in a Nutshell
Balak sends Balaam to curse the Jews. His talking donkey tries to stop him, to no avail. Each time he opens his mouth, Balaam ends up blessing the nation instead.
The Tefillin Files

The story of how one unstoppable teenage kid beta-tested a neurocardiokinetic field receptor device, experienced life in mind-stereo, and exposed the hidden secrets of an ancient ritual
Is this World all There Is?

Does Judaism believe in an afterlife? From what I’ve read of the Torah, it seems that there is almost no mention of life after death.
Story
Six Hundred Dinars Minus Six

"Give with an open hand," Rabbi Shimon adjured. "Don't worry about tomorrow, G-d will provide. And most important: write it all down. Every penny you give, write it down and carry the list with you at all times..."
Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our father Abraham; and whoever possesses the opposite three traits is of the disciples of the wicked Balaam. The disciples of our father Abraham have a good eye, a meek spirit and a humble soul. The disciples of the wicked Balaam have an evil eye, a haughty spirit and a gross soul.
— Ethics of the Fathers 5:19
Print Magazine

It’s G-d’s world. Everything He gives is good, the sweetest good.

But it is often a good far too great for us to understand. We imagine it is not good, because that’s the only way to make sense of it with our small minds.

Yet the truth is, He gives us all the good we can handle. If we could take more, He would g...

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