If Torah portions had thematic titles instead of using a word near the beginning that’s easy to spot, this would not be Parashat Balak but Parashat … Balaam. (You knew that.) This week, I want to look ...

Does Balaam’s donkey mock him? She disagrees with his plan. She holds fast to her perception of the danger before them. She disobeys his order. These actions do not amount to mockery. Rashi says ...

Balaam is hired in this week’s Parashat Balak by the Moabite King Balak to curse Israel as they traverse his territory, but Balaam blesses Israel instead with famous words now included in the morning ...

Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto’s talks are known throughout the Jewish world. They combine chassidic teachings and philosophy, along with tips for a better life. We have collected pearls from his teachings ...

The concept of repentance is one of Judaism’s greatest contributions to religious thought. The concomitant idea, however, that the Eternal may experience a change of heart detrimental to the entire ...

Read Blogging the Bible Entries about Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, or Numbers. To learn more about the Blogging the Bible project, click here. Chapter 21 The Israelites are back to bellyaching again, ...

Numbers 23:8 is a powerful statement of divine authority and protection. When Balaam, hired to curse the Israelites, says, “How can I curse whom God has not cursed?” he is acknowledging that he cannot ...