Parshat Balak: When Hidden Curses Become Open Blessings

This Week’s Dedication

This Shabbat, as our beloved grandson is called to the Torah, we are filled with deep gratitude. May his aliyah usher in abundant nachat, simchot, and enduring joy for our entire family.

At the same time, this moment arrives with spiritual urgency.

We now stand at the threshold of the Three Weeks, a period marked by national mourning and historical tragedy. As we enter the Three Weeks, we may feel the weight of mourning—but light in times of mourning. still shines through, just as it did in the story of Bilam’s curses turning to bracha.

Parshat Balak opens a window of hope—a hidden message of transformation, Hashem’s protection, and unexpected blessing.

Why Is a Parsha Named After a Villain?

It’s perplexing: why does the Torah name a parsha after Balak, a Moabite king who tried to curse and destroy Am Yisrael? Other parshiot are named after righteous leaders—Yehudah, Pinchas, Noach—but Balak never did teshuvah.

Rashi hints at something deeper. The phrase “Vayar Balak ben Tzippor” uses the word Tzippor, meaning “bird,” alluding to sorcery. According to the Or HaChaim, Balak was no ordinary king—he was deeply steeped in spiritual power, even perceiving that Mashiach would one day emerge from his descendants through Ruth the Moabite.

But instead of embracing that destiny, Balak panicked. He tried to stop it, hiring Bil’am to curse the Jewish people. Ironically, the Torah uses the phrase “Lecha arah li”—“Come and curse for me.” Rashi reads the word li as turning the curse back on Balak himself. He tried to destroy us—and ended up undermining his own legacy.

Hashem’s Hidden Miracles: The Ultimate Protection

One of the most powerful aspects of Parshat Balak is that Am Yisrael had no idea any of this was happening. Bil’am’s entire effort—ten days of curses and sorcery—took place at a distance. The people were unaware.

And yet, instead of curses, Hashem transformed Bil’am’s words into brachot.

Rav Hirsch explains that this episode is preserved in Torah to show Hashem’s boundless love for His people. Even when we are unaware or undeserving, He shields us from spiritual harm.

The Haftarah emphasizes this theme:

“Zachor na ma asa Balak… lema’an da’at tzidkot Hashem.”“Remember what Balak plotted… so you may know the righteousness of Hashem.”

Modern Miracles and the Message of the Three Weeks

This message couldn’t be more relevant today. When headlines bring grief and rockets fall on Eretz Yisrael, do we recognize the hidden miracles? The fact that Am Yisrael survives, thrives, and returns to our Land is no less miraculous than the blessings that emerged from Bil’am’s curses.

And now, as we approach Shiva Asar B’Tammuz, we remember five painful events:

• The shattering of the Luchot

• The end of the Tamid offering

• The burning of a Sefer Torah

• The placement of an idol in the Beit HaMikdash

• The breach of Jerusalem’s walls

But even here, there is hidden hope.

Chazal note that when Aharon tried to delay the Golden Calf, he said:“Chag LaHashem machar”—Tomorrow will be a festival for Hashem.Though it didn’t happen then, the Midrash sees it as prophetic: Shiva Asar B’Tammuz will one day become a Yom Tov.

Even more astonishing—the night Boaz married Ruth, beginning the dynasty of David HaMelech and ultimately Mashiach, was Shiva Asar B’Tammuz. On the very day our enemies broke us, Hashem planted the seeds of redemption.

Bil’am’s Blessings: Daily Chizuk for Jewish Women

Let’s look at some of the blessings that emerged from Bil’am’s failed curses:

• “Mi rosh tzurim er’enu” – Our strength comes from the Avot, reminding us that despair can birth salvation.

• “Hashem Elokav imo” – Even when we feel distant, Hashem remains close.

• “Hen am k’lavi yakum” – We rise each morning with inner strength, starting our day with Modeh Ani.

• “Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov” – We say these words daily. Our homes and communities are fortresses of emunah.

Each pasuk becomes a lifeline for the Jewish woman seeking strength—reminding us that prayer, faith, and love of Torah can transform curses into brachot.

Just as Bilam saw the greatness of one unified people, we’re reminded that even one Jewish soul can illuminate the world—lighting up the world with our inner flame is not just a metaphor, but a mission.

Conclusion: From Balak to Beit HaMikdash

The message of Parshat Balak is clear: no force, no curse, and no enemy can override Hashem’s will.

The same Balak who tried to curse us became a key to Mashiach’s lineage. The same day that marked the fall of Yerushalayim also marked the dawn of redemption.

As we begin the Three Weeks, may we hold this truth close: Hashem is always orchestrating transformation—sometimes in ways we cannot yet see.

This time invites deep reflection and spiritual return. Navigating Av and Our Spiritual Journey offers practical and soulful guidance on how to transform pain into purpose as we move toward redemption.

May this Shabbat bring clarity, joy, and protection. May we see Shiva Asar B’Tammuz transformed into a day of light, and may the Beit HaMikdash be rebuilt, speedily in our days—bimheira b’yameinu, Amen.