Calling All Donkeys! -- CHRONICLE Online/The WORD 07/10/25

Weekly On-line Rabbi's D'var-Torah

July 10, 2025

14 Tamuz 5785

Parashat Balak

Everything old is new again.

In this week’s Torah portion, the people of Israel experienced military victories, and the leaders of neighboring nations noticed. Balak (which means “empty”) was the King of Moab—which was situated east of the Dead Sea. He was nervous about the approaching Israelite people because he suspected that they wanted to conquer more than just their own land, starting with his.

So, Balak hired a man by the name of Bilaam (which means “without a nation”) to curse the Israelites. Bilaam was known as a prophet or seer despite the fact that he was not associated with a particular god or nation. Balak said to Bilaam: “So-now, pray go, curse this people for me.” Yes, that’s right, an enemy of Israel wanted to pay in order for Israel to be cursed. Bilaam had no issue with the Israelites. He had no reason to curse them. The only incentive he had was financial.

When Bilaam hesitated, Balak added: “Indeed, I will honor, yes, honor you exceedingly.” He then raised his offer to get Bilaam to curse the people of Israel.

Still, because God was whispering in his ear, Bilaam couldn’t curse the Israelites. So, finally, Balak said: “If you just cannot revile them, just do not bless them!”

Just like the Moabites all those years ago, we once again see Israel’s neighbors paying in order to see Israel cursed. It’s not exactly a curse like in the days of Bilaam. Instead, it is the villainization of the one Jewish state in the media and on college campuses.  

For example, since 1986, Qatar has invested $6.3 billion in American colleges and universities. This is not simply out of the goodness of their hearts. This money funds Middle Eastern Studies departments, endows professorships, and sponsors student fellowships. Needless to say, none of this money is available to pro-Israel deans, professors or students. The goal of these investments is to spread hate for Israel to young American students.  

Qatar is also home to Al Jazeera, which presents itself as a regular news organization, but is very clearly the propaganda arm of the Qatari government, which owns 100% of the company. Al Jazeera celebrates political figures who call for violence against Jews and supports the cleansing of Palestine, which means the removal of the Jews in Israel. By posing as regular media outlet, other news organizations will share Al Jazeera reports as if they are objective fact rather than the propaganda that they are.

If that were not enough, Qatar is also home to the remaining leadership of Hamas, who live a life of luxury in Doha while making decisions that lead to death and destruction in both Gaza and Israel. They have no interest in a two-state solution. Their only goal is the destruction of Israel.

At the end of our story in the Book of Numbers, Bilaam could not even accede to Balak’s final request that he simply remain silent. Eventually, Bilaam spoke the words that are a part of our liturgy to this day: “How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwellings, O Israel.” In other words, Bilaam eventually realized that he had no reason to curse the Israelites. It was Balak who was in the wrong.

If only that would happen today.

It is a constant source of frustration to me that people whom I consider to be kind and smart cannot see through the propaganda campaign against Israel. I recently heard Sam Harris refer to the “moral asymmetry” between Israel and Hamas. Israel is a flawed democracy trying to survive surrounded by countries and militant groups that only want to see its destruction. Hamas is willing to risk the “martyring” of all their women and children if it will lead to the demise of Israel. I don’t understand how anyone can look at the situation and think that somehow Hamas is in the right.

It took a talking donkey to get Bilaam’s attention and convince him that he should not curse the people of Israel. I don’t know what it will take to counteract the massive propaganda effort against Israel. But, in the absence of a talking donkey, I guess I will just have to keep speaking Israel’s truth and I hope that others who love Israel will do the same.  

Shalom,

RAF.