By Rabbi Yisroel Shusterman
This week’s Parsha
Perspective is dedicated in memory of Elka
bas Zisel OBM
Dedicated in memory
of Leah bas Rochel OBM
At the end of last
week’s Parsha, we find Moshe (Moses) having an anxious day. He
was about to wage war against Og, king of the Bashanites, and he was
afraid. After all, Og had long ago done a favor for Abraham, informing him of
his nephew Lot's kidnapping, and Moshe was afraid that this good deed would
stand Og in good stead and turn the tide of victory against the Jewish people.
Although afraid
"in his heart," Moshe put on a brave face. "Righteous
people are in control of their hearts", the Midrash tells us. There
was nothing to gain by sharing his worries with the people, so he kept them to
himself.
The result: the
Jewish people were calm and relaxed, and indeed, were victorious in battle.
On the flip side:
This week’s Torah
portion Balak (Bamidbor [Numbers] 22:2-25:9) tells us about Balak, king of
Moab, who was having a bad day. The Moab State Department had
just sent him a memo that the two mighty kings in the region, Og, king of
Bashan and Sichon, king of Emori, had been totally defeated by the invading
Hebrews. "And Balak saw all that the Jews have done to the Emorites
etc."
Consumed with panic,
he called a press conference. With a pale face and broken voice, he broke the
news of the invasion to all the citizens of Moab, hyping them up about the
"Jewish problem." The heart was in control of the mind.
The result:
"And [the nation of] Moab was afraid."
What was there to
gain by terrifying the people? Nada. The people of Moab didn't take up arms or
send messengers of peace. They just sat at home biting their nails.
Although Balak and
his advisors did summon the prophet Bilam to curse the Jews, that had
nothing to do with the rest of the citizens of Moab! So why did Balak frighten
his nation?
"Wicked people are in the control of their hearts."
Our emotions are who
we are. They can either turn molehills into mountains, causing us to lose
control and creating unhealthy emotions such as hate and jealousy - Balak.
Or, when controlled
by the mind, they can fill us with healthy emotions such as love and devotion
to G‑d, family, community - Moshe.
Let's be a Moshe. As
the expression goes - Think Good (and) It Will Be Good טראכט גוט, וועט זיין גוט!
(Excerpts from
Chabad.org - Rabbi Levi Avtzon)
May you
have a meaningful and uplifting Shabbos!
If you would like to
dedicate the weekly Parsha Perspective in honor or memory of a person
or occasion, please contact Rabbi
Shusterman at yshusterman@chedermonsey.org
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