PARSHAS BALAK
Can you figure out what each picture has to do with the parsha?
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Balak – Parsha Pix Key
Ox eating grass – The beginning of the parsha notes that Balak and his people, Moav, were disgusted with the Jewish people. They complained to the elders of Midyan that the Jewish nation were going to destroy their surroundings like an ox devours grass in a field – 22:4
Riding a donkey – Bila’am rode on his donkey that later spoke to him – 22:21, 22:28
Looking out from the summit – In his efforts to find a place to curse the Jews, and after failing twice to do so, Balak took Bila’am to a summit where he could see only part of the nation soi he could curse them. That too failed – 23:13-14
House made of money – When the officers of Moav offered Bila’am money and prestige as payment for his going to curse the Jewish people, Bila’am replied that even if they offered him a house full of gold and silver, he was only able to say what Hashem allowed him to say – 22:18
Blessings versus Curses – Four times Bila’am tried to curse the Jews, each time from a different location. Every time he ended up spewing beautiful blessings, extolling the unparalleled virtues of the Jewish people – chapter 23-24
Rushing stream – One of the blessings Bil’am unwittingly uttered about the Jewish people was that they are, “Like gardens beside a river… Like cedars beside the water” -24:6
Roaring Lion – One of the blessings Bil’am unwittingly uttered about the Jewish people was, “They crouch, they lie down like a lion. Like a lioness who dares rouse them?” 24:9
Shalosh Regalim (Pesach, Shavuos, Succos) – When Bil’am’s donkey began talking to him the first question it asked was “why did you hit me three times?” Instead of using the more common word “pe’amim” (times) it says regalim, which can also mean “festivals”. Rashi says there was a hidden message to Bila’am that he was trying to curse a holy people who observe three festivals that bring them closer to Hashem – 22:28
Scary figure holding sword – The donkey of Bila’am moved out of the way when it saw in its path an ominous angel with a sword drawn. Bila’am didn’t see the angel and, therefore, became angry at the donkey for veering off the way – 22:23
