by Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Shliach to Jacksonville, FL
Poor Balak and Bilaam. If only they had lived in our generation they might’ve received some respect – favorable media coverage; interviews on CNN and invitations to speak at the Hebrew University to tell their side of the story.
The part about the speaking donkey would certainly make for great feature articles. It would likely be noted that Bilaam is not to be blamed for beating his animal. It’s all really the fault of the Israelites whose aggressive posture is to blame for the whole fiasco.
Yet, no matter what the revisionists might say, as far as the Torah is concerned Balak and Bilaam remain the clowns whose arrogance and greed has left them humiliated and disgraced.
The fall of the original spin artist, Balaam – the non-governmental, not-for-profit, one man organization, proclaiming great ideals while at the same time is available for hire – bears a particularly relevant message.