The name of this Parashah, “Balak”, is the name of the King of Moab, who had hired the prophet Bilam to curse the Jewish people. Although Bilam is antisemitic on his own right, he tells Balak that he can’t curse the Jewish people without G-d’s consent. Every time he opens his mouth to curse them, only blessings come out.
He stands on a hill to look at the Jews from a distance so he can find any fault in them so a curse could come out, but instead he sees them dwelling in peace and respect. One of his most famous curses that came out as blessings is this one “How goodly are your tents….”
Every day we say it when praying in the morning. We say it after saying ” I hereby take upon myself to fulfill the mitzvah, “Love your fellowman as yourself”(Levicitus 19:18).
Why are the put in this order? When Bilam was looking for a reason to curse the people, he realized that they honored something very precious and that is privacy. The tents were built in a way in which they didn’t look into each other. People were not snooping into others business. To love someone like yourself you have to be very delicate into honoring their privacy. When we get to see someone else’s life from beginning to end and in every detail this can help harbor feelings of jealousy.
Sadly today people are not so careful with their privacy. Facebook, Instagram, snapchat, etc.. are incredible social platforms if used correctly, but many get caught in the trend and post everything about them, from what they eat, wear, think, their kids, homes, cars and even when they are ready to go to sleep. What is this need to be so exposed?
Psychologists today say that many people fall into depression by looking at what seems others perfect lives. By following so many bloggers, celebrities, fashionistas makes them feel this way.
It would be wise of us to maintain a level of modesty in our lives and not expose ourselves in such a way. When we value our preciousness we will not have a need to expose it. When something is valuable you guard it and protect it.
Let’s remember how Bilam was not able to curse them, but instead because of their modesty they were blessed.
Live a little higher
