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the 17th of Tammuz, Moshe broke the luchot which he had obtained after
forty days in Heaven.
The word (if) is numerically equivalent to forty-one. In order to merit
truly hearkening to Hashem’s call, we must uphold the Torah, which was
given after forty days and nights. The number one left over hints to an
added measure of kedushah which we are enjoined to take.
We were redeemed in the merit of the righteous women, and in their merit,
we will be redeemed in the future. The women had no part in the sin of
the Golden Calf and were outstanding in their tzeniut.
How could Bilaam, the prophet of the nations, entertain the thought of
cursing the Jewish people, when he knew that the entire world rested upon
their merit?
Moshe Rabbeinu constantly sought ways to cleave to the Shechinah and
speak with Hashem. Conversely, Bilaam always sought ways to flee the
“So now – please come and curse this people for Shechinah. He was interested only in knowing the moment of Hashem’s
me, for it is too powerful for me; perhaps I will wrath, in order to exploit it for his devilish designs.
be able to strike it and drive it away from the Moshe Rabbeinu was endowed with the quality of gratitude. He displayed
land. For I know that whomever you bless is gratitude even to inanimate objects, such as the water and the earth.
Therefore, he always tried to come closer to Hashem. This middah of
blessed and whomever you curse is accursed” gratitude is the basis for clinging to Hashem. When a person accustoms
(Bamidbar 22:6) himself to thank others for their kindnesses toward him, he becomes
attuned to the multitude acts of kindness which Hashem does for him all
the time. He will naturally come to thank Him for it all.
Deficiency in the quality of gratitude obscured Bilaam’s vision, to the
degree that he acted contrary to his nation’s best interests. He sought to
curse Bnei Yisrael, upon whom the entire world stands. He was so full of
himself that he had no room to admit to the truth.
Why was Bilaam blamed for failing to display gratitude? He was so full
of negative character traits; was it a surprise that he lacked this attribute?
Even negative character traits can be channeled in positive streams,
bringing a person to life-giving waters. David is a prime example of just
