{Originally posted to Rabbi Weinberg’s website, The Foundation Stone, with Prayers for Divine Healing for Rabbi Weinberg}
Whether discussing Adam and Eve, politics, or, for my parents z”l, when discussing my sister and me, it can be difficult to identify who is to blame. We tend to blame the Snake or Eve, and forget that Adam set the stage for the sin. I’ll keep away from politics, but, I must admit that my sister was a master at pointing the blame at me, even when, “she started it!”
We certainly tend to confuse the real enemy in this week’s portion. Most of us focus on the evil prophet, Balaam, and forget that Micah taught us to, “Remember now what Balak plotted and what Balaam answered him (Micah 6:5).” Balak was the planner, and the plutolatric Balaam, the recipient of our disdain, consistently reminded Balak that God is in control.
Balak needed help with his plan. “Moab said to the elders of Midian (Numbers 22:4),” is explained by Rashi as Balak contacting the Midianites, “among whom Moses lived as a boy, to determine Moses’ source of strength. The Midianites said that his strength lay in his mouth, so Balak sent for Balaam, whose power lay in his mouth uttering curses.” There was only one Midianite who knew Moses’ power; Moses had a speech impediment when he was in Midian, and they had no way of recognizing his power of speech. The one Midianite who knew Moses, was his father-in-law, Yitro.
Balak turned to Yitro, who left the Children of Israel after Moses pleaded, “Please do not forsake us, inasmuch as you know our encampments and you have been eyes for us (10:31).” “Inasmuch as you know our encampments,” implies that Yitro knew Israel’s secrets – Moses had his suspicions. “You have been eyes for us,” was exactly what Yitro did not desire. He did not believe in leadership from the top down, and had been debating Moses ever since he witnessed the people lining up to speak to Moses. He insisted on a more accessible structure for the community. It’s not coincidental that soon after Yitro leaves, Moses has to appoint seventy sages to assist him in leading the nation. It seems that Yitro’s point was made; a nation with one person serving as its “eyes,” will lose its way.
Upon Yitro’s advice, Balak pinpointed the most vulnerable point in a nation led by Moses – the people. He hired Balaam to curse Israel, and despite Balaam’s repeatedly blessing the people, Balak continues to make offerings to God and push Balaam. Balak finally allows Balaam to peacefully return home rather than punish him because Balak was not really focused on the curses. He knew that Israel had Divine protection. His plan was to demonstrate that the people were the vulnerable point. It was only the people who could weaken their protection.
Balak was now ready for the coup de grâce: “Israel settled in Shittim and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab…and the wrath of God flared up against Israel (25:1-2).” Balak seemed to successfully prove his point; a nation led from the top down will fail. God even points the blame at the leaders at the top, “Take all the leaders of the people. Hang them (Verse 4).”
But, Balak was wrong. “Pinchas stood up from amidst the assembly and took a spear in his hand (Verse 7),” and stopped the plague that had killed twenty-four thousand of Israel. Yitro and Balak missed the point. Moses did not lead from the top down, but nurtured a nation that could inspire a person “from amidst the assembly,” to rise to the occasion and assume responsibility. Yes, the people were vulnerable, but they were also their greatest source of strength. The seventy men selected by Moses came from the people, and God, “Increased the spirit that is upon Moses and place it upon them (11:17).” Moses’ mission was to inspire and offer the people opportunities to elevate themselves, and through them to raise the entire nation.
Thus Micah concludes his lesson about Balak and Balaam with his famous words, “With what shall I approach God? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what God seeks from you; only the performance of justice, the love of kindness, and walking humbly with your Lord (Micah 6:6-8).” The prophetic leader spoke to each person, and inspired each to have the confidence to approach God. The best leaders don’t lead from the top down, but elevate those “at the bottom” to reach higher. Our worst enemy is the one who convinces us that we can only be led from the top, rather than recognize that a real leader lifts up each individual so that he can stand with him in the heavens. God, the Ultimate Leader, does not lead from the top down; He grants us Free Choice, and inspires us to elevate ourselves to stand closer to Him
This coming Sunday will be the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz, which is the Yahrtzeit of my father and rebbi. The hole in my heart is filled only by his consistent inspiration to reach ever higher, to strive to stand with him at his level. May the memory of the righteous be a blessing. His, certainly is.
Shabbat Shalom