Shabbat Parashat Balak 5786

Balak | 12 Tammuz 5786 | 27/06/2026

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Shavua Tov!

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Parashat Hashavua: On Prophecy, Blessing, and Prayer

Harav Yosef Carmel

The number of examples and scope of Bilam’s dichotomy are extraordinary. On the one hand, he was, in some ways, similar to Moshe Rabbeinu. On the other hand, he was as low as a person can be, e.g., by having relations with his donkey. Let us try to find a recurring word in the story of Bilam, which can teach more about what made him tick. Along the way, we can compare him to David and Eliyahu.

The root that comes up no less than 14 times in the narrative of Bilam is davor, which is used both to mean speech and in the word davar (thing, matter). He discussed the things he would say, listening to what Hashem would say, speaking to Balak, Balak speaking to him…

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Ask the Rabbi: Mention of Rosh Chodesh in Al Hamichya after Dark

Rav Daniel Mann

I had a meal at the end of Rosh Chodesh that required an Al Hamichya and had to leave before finishing for Ma’ariv. When I returned and finished the meal, should I have mentioned Rosh Chodesh in Al Hamichya?

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Moreshet Shaul: The Staff of Pleasantness

Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 100-101 (from memorial service for Rav Kook, 1953)

Zecharia prophesied: “I took two staffs; one I called pleasantness (noam), and one I called damagers (chovlim)” (Zecharia 11:7). “Noam” refers to the Torah scholars in Eretz Yisrael, who interact pleasantly with each other when discussing Halacha. “Chovlim” refers to Torah scholars in Bavel, who damage each other when discussing Halacha.

The correlation between pleasantness and Eretz Yisrael is not coincidental. It flows from the different perceptions that exist in Eretz Yisrael’s atmosphere. While the words of Torah are not prophecy, when studied in Eretz Yisrael, they possess completeness. Eretz Yisrael is connected to Am Yisrael. This nation can be divided into different limbs and pieces, in which each one has its special role, and only in the way the sections are interconnected does each have its proper place.

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P'ninat Mishpat:  Regulation of Land Rights in a Settlement Extension – part III

(based on ruling 84019 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)

The plaintiffs (=pl) used to live in an unrecognized settlement extension (=SE), which was the subject of past rulings of a beit din in the region (=pbdr) in 2014. Pl left SE in 2013, and returned in 2016, against the will of the settlement committee (=def), with the help of pressure from the regional council (=rc). Def instructed pl as to the boundaries of their lot, but pl expanded beyond them and ignored warnings to desist from such actions. In 2023, def started preparing neighboring lots for new units, including areas to which pl had asserted control, and def destroyed some of pl’s infrastructure. An official of rc wrote that he does not oppose pl’s use of the area, pl have called the police to stop the work, and the matter is before our beit din. [We continue dealing with pl’s claims in installments.] Pl claims that since he is not claiming ownership but only use of the area, this is under the realm of chezkat tashmishin, which can be claimed after even a short amount of time.

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