Bilaam was brilliant. He understood our relationship with Hashem, and if he could just hit one of our weak spots, our entire connection would fall apart. Rabbi Wagensberg describes the relationship we have, and the fascinating, but diabolical identity of Bilaam - our enemy from many years ago.
Did Bilam, a prophet of MosheåÕs caliber, sincerely believe he could curse the Jews without divine consent? Rabbi WagensbergåÕs rule that darkness attracts darkness helps explain what this evil man was trying to do åÐ and yet reassures us that we can all push ourselves over to the side of good.
Would cursing the Jewish nation work? Balak was no fool. Join Rabbi Wagensberg to comprehend the depth of his scheme, and his intent to convince G-d Himself to change sides. How did Hashem use their very machinations as a punishment for them, and how does this teach us to go to the extreme opposite when fighting the negative inclination within us?
The holier something is, the heavier the covering of impurity that veils it. Follow Rabbi Wagensberg’s colorful trail as he strips away the external ugliness to show the inner light of the difficult and tragic periods in the Jewish calendar, and within the soul of Ruth which was caught within Balak’s nation. What was Balak’s true aim in attempting to curse the Jews?
Sometimes we have to deal with people who appear to be the lowest of the low while at other times we find ourselves in the most difficult situation. But whatåÕs not always apparent is that these very people, places, times, or situations, could very well be the highest of the high. Once again Rabbi Wagensberg will fill us with hope in this lecture by revealing holy sparks that stem from the least expected places.
We the Jewish People have the most lethal weapon in the world, it's right under our noses and we don't even realize it. If you'd like to find out what this magnificent energy source is, then click here and prepare to be blown away as Rabbi Wagensberg unravels the mystery behind our greatest weapon. There won't be a dry eye in the audience.
One of the most poisonous attitudes a Jew can take on is a sense of apathy, and a desire to simply get the rituals out of the way so we can continue on with our lives. The enthusiasm that must surround Torah observance can be frightening – as it was to Moav. Why were they scared enough to attempt to curse the Jews, and how did Bilaam himself admit that our fire to serve G-d was something impossible to bring down?
When we look at this weekåÕs parsha, we can see the destruction that comes from acting against Torah law. But what a sin can do in the arena of negativity, if done as a mitzvah, can have just as powerful a positive effect. Rabbi Wagnesberg explains this fascinating idea.
If you find it hard to hate anything, even evil, it may mean that you unconsciously harbor a tiny smattering of hate in your heart. Even hatred has a place in the holiest of people. How can we learn to use hatred appropriately to avoid getting pulled down into negativity?
If you usually skip over parsha talks, give a listen to Rabbi Wagensberg! His dynamic style gives an exciting twist to each week's parsha, often coming from a new vantage point.