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Balak (2026)

Shabbat Balak

This Shabbat the Diaspora "catches up" with Israel with a double portion Chukat-Balak. Feel free to double dose on the Slack Torah as well with last week's message

Dvar Torah – Rising with courageIn this week's portion, Balak, King of Moab, hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Jewish people. Standing on a hilltop overlooking the Israelite camp, Balaam opens his mouth and blessings pour out instead. Among them: "Behold, a people that rises like a cub, and lifts itself like a lion" (Numbers 23:24).

The classic commentator Rashi (quoting the Midrash) explains this verse as a moving description of something ordinary – our morning routines. Balaam saw that Jews arise each day with the energy and vigor of lion cubs, going from one mitzvah to another from our very first waking moments. From the moment we say “Modeh Ani” till the moment we say Shema before going to sleep, we are on a journey of meaning.

In fact, this image is so foundational that the Shulchan Aruch — the Code of Jewish Law — opens by quoting this exact idea, that we should awaken every day with the courage of a lion, ready to engage Hashem’s world with purpose and meaning.

Wishing us all many many mornings full of vigor and purpose!

Shabbat in/out timesYerushalayim 19:09/20:31Tel-Aviv 19:29/20:33Paris 21:40/23:04NYC 20:13/21:22San Jose CR 17:42/18:35More Shabbat times

Shabbat Shalom!



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