SHABBAT ZEST
Parsha Balak 7th Tammuz 5774
Torah Reading / Haftara:
Artscroll – p.856/1189
Living Torah – p.778/1206
SHABBAT TIMES:
Candle Lighting:
7:35pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Davening: 7:00pm
Pre Shacharit Parsha
Shiur: 8:45am
Shabbat Morning
Davening: 9:00am
Mincha only will take
place this afternoon @
6:00pm
Shabbat Ends 10:24pm
NEXT SHABBAT
PINCHAS CANDLE
LIGHTING @
7:35PM
This week’s
Kiddush is being
sponsored by
Howard Diamond
Parsha In a Nutshell
Balak, the king of Moab, summons the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. On the
way, Balaam is berated by his donkey, who sees, before Balaam does, the angel that G-d
sends to block their way. Three times, from three different vantage points, Balaam attempts
to pronounce his curses; each time, blessings issue forth instead. Balaam also prophesies on
the end of the days and the coming of Moshiach.
The people fall prey to the charms of the daughters of Moab, and are enticed to worship the
idol Peor. When a high-ranking Israelite official publicly takes a Midianite princess into a
tent, Pinchas kills them both, stopping the plague raging among the people
Haftorah
This week's Haftorah makes mention of the incident of Balak the king of Moab hiring the
sorcerer Balaam to curse the Jewish people -- the main topic of this week's Torah reading.
The prophet Micah prophesies about what will occur after the war of Gog and Magog, the
war which precedes the coming of the Messiah and the Final Redemption.
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples -- like dew sent by G-d,
like torrents of rain upon vegetation that does not hope for any man and does not wait for
the sons of men." The prophet describes how G-d will remove the idols and sorcerers and
how He will destroy the Jews' enemies.
The prophet Micah then goes on to rebuke the Jewish people for not observing G-d's
commandments, calling as witness the "mountains and hills" -- a reference to the Patriarchs
and Matriarchs -- and reminding them of the great things G-d had done for them. He took
them out of Egypt and replaced the curses that Balaam son of Beor wanted to utter against
them with blessings.
The Jewish people respond by saying that they do not know how to serve G-d and ask for
guidance. The prophet reminds them of the Torah, and that all they need to do is contained
within it: "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what G-d demands of you: but to do
justice, love kindness, and walk discreetly with your G-d."
Please do not take this sheet to or from shul on Shabbat - Please discard this sheet appropriately as it contains the name of G-d
PAGE2
UPCOMING
EVENTS!!!
20th July – Youth
Go Karting Trip
20th July – Prize
Giving day for last
day of Cheder this
year
24th-25th October –
Shabbat
International Project
Table tennis club
continues - every
Thursday - now with
2 tables!!! Contact
Allan Kurt on 0771
277 5234 for details.
Yartzeits for the
coming week 7th –
13th:
9. Geoffrey
Wrightman –
Father
10. Sarah Bradley
– Father
10. Amanda Green
– Father
11. Kay Osborne –
Husband
12. Marilyn
Weigler – Father
12. Gary
Rosenbaum –
Wife
12. Richard Rains
– Sister
12. Raymond and
Sandra Rains –
Daughter
12. Karen
Williams – Mother
A Little Deeper – 18 Days
Monday was an incredibly painful one for world Jewry. The harrowing le'vayot - funerals for 3 of 'our
boys' brutally murdered in cold blood. Lost for words, we simply and humbly accept that there are some
events in life that we cannot understand.
Shock. Horror. Pain. Anger. Sadness. A mix of emotions swelled over us on Monday as we heard the
horrible news that the three kidnapped boys in Israel, Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel, were
found murdered. We had hoped and we had prayed that this would have a different ending – but instead we
were faced with the unspeakable tragedy.
Our hearts go out to Eyal, Gilad and Naftalis parents as members of our extended family, whilst not even
beginning to imagine the horror that they must be living through right now.
Over the past few days the boys’ mothers have all said repeatedly that they have drawn strength from the
sense of Achdut - unity of Jewish people around the world - united together in solidarity and prayer.
Immediate reactions ranged from questioning the response of the police to demanding revenge and
reprisals. While I do not discount these reactions, I personally feel that the story of the last 18 days – the
story that will remain of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali to those who never knew them personally – was a much
deeper and profound one.
Here is what I learned over the past 18 days.
1) How amazing is it to be part of the Jewish People. Unfortunately kidnappings and murder are not rare
occurrences. When does it really hit us? When God forbid it happens to those close to us – our family, our
friends. Then we take notice and really feel the gravity of the situation. Jews from all over the world
reacted like the three boys are our family. And that’s the point – it’s not “like” they are our family – they
ARE our family. What nation exists that feels this range of emotion and deep care, love and empathy for
each other across continents and languages? This caring and love is unique and should be cherished.
2) We truly can be unified. Unfortunately we dwell on what separates us. Religious or secular, Israeli or
Diaspora, right-wing or left-wing. We have differences and we see things differently – and that is fine. But
do we see those differences as divisions that make us incapable of looking at each other as brothers and
sisters? Are we unable to respect those that are different than us because we believe so strongly that what
divides us is so much greater and more important that what we share? Were Eyal, Gilad and Naftali
religious? Were they “settlers” whatever that means? None of that mattered. They were our boys. We
didn’t care about any differences; we identified with what we shared – being part of the Jewish people,
having a love for the Land of Israel, being part of a family. We identified and we united. We prayed
together, we cried together and then yes tragically we buried them together.
The best way to honor Eyal, Gilad and Naftali is to strive to continue to live with what they inspired within
us.
3) Our deep sense of caring pushed us to be better people. While we watched anxiously to see what the
Israeli government and military’s reaction would be, our personal reaction focused on prayer, kind deeds
and an outpouring of love. Thousands stood together at the Western Wall and in other locations praying for
their safety – religious, secular, ultra-orthodox, soldiers, etc. Israeli Minister Yair Lapid revealed, “I
haven’t prayed in six years. I haven’t gone into a synagogue since my son’s bar mitzvah. When I heard
what had happened to your sons, I turned my house upside down to look for my grandfather’s prayer book.
I sat down and prayed.” High schools students did acts of kindness as a merit for the three boys. Secular
Israeli soldiers took on to start wearing Tefillin in honor of the boys memory. A deep, profound reaction
that came from our very essence, our souls.
The coming days and weeks will focus on political inquiries, military reactions, and most probably
criticisms of Israel reactions – both calling for more restraint and more revenge. Much of this will come
from the deep pain we feel and from a yearning to feel that the boys’ murder did not happen in vain. My
sense is that the best way to honor Eyal, Gilad and Naftali is to strive to continue to live with what they
inspired within us. To not let our heightened sense of unity, love and connection to die out with their
deaths. Let us care a little more about each other more, let us realize how blessed we are to be part of the
Jewish nation, and let us further commit to fulfilling our national calling.
Our prayers, tears and consolations go out to the bereaved families. Let us turn our enemy’s hatred and
desire to divide and harm us into a powerful response that will unite and uplift us as a nation.
Ha’makom Ye’nachem Etchem – May the Almighty grant us all comfort among all the mourners of Zion
and Jerusalem and may we be blessed with a long and healthy life.
Wishing you all Good Shabbos.