Can we see what is in front of us? Are we able to see what is really happening?
These are two of the questions posed in this week’s Torah portion Chukat-Balak. It is a double portion and in the second one, Balak, we read the story of the Prophet Balaam, who is hired by King Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites.
Balaam goes off on his faithful donkey to fulfill his commission but the donkey hesitates, for the donkey can see an angel with a drawn sword blocking the road. But Balaam cannot see it, and so he is angry at his mount until God opens his eyes. The great prophet sees less than his donkey.
I wonder if those of us who are white are like Balaam, and are blind to the injustices that are all around us everyday. We see our country in a certain way, while our fellow citizens experience our country very differently. We now have the opportunity to have our eyes opened and see things in a new light, as Balaam did. To see reality fully.
When Balaam saw the angel, he knew he had to change his plan. If we see the problems in our country, with the same clarity, are we willing to work for change?
Chukat-Balak, Numbers 19:1 – 25:9 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, July 4, 2020
July 3, 2020 by Dean Kertesz •
Can we see what is in front of us? Are we able to see what is really happening?
These are two of the questions posed in this week’s Torah portion Chukat-Balak. It is a double portion and in the second one, Balak, we read the story of the Prophet Balaam, who is hired by King Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites.
Balaam goes off on his faithful donkey to fulfill his commission but the donkey hesitates, for the donkey can see an angel with a drawn sword blocking the road. But Balaam cannot see it, and so he is angry at his mount until God opens his eyes. The great prophet sees less than his donkey.
I wonder if those of us who are white are like Balaam, and are blind to the injustices that are all around us everyday. We see our country in a certain way, while our fellow citizens experience our country very differently. We now have the opportunity to have our eyes opened and see things in a new light, as Balaam did. To see reality fully.
When Balaam saw the angel, he knew he had to change his plan. If we see the problems in our country, with the same clarity, are we willing to work for change?