Page 487 - BAMIDBAR

How could Bilaam, giant of the gentile prophets, refuse to seek kedushah
and taharah, and cling to tumah instead? Moreover, he wished to curse
Bnei Yisrael, the Chosen People.

The sefer Mesillat Yesharim states that besides for those stricken by
physical blindness, there are people who willingly blind their spiritual
eyesight. Bilaam is a prime example of just such a person. He blurred his
vision to Hashem’s existence. Had Bilaam truly loved Hashem, he would
have chosen to cling to Him. But this was not the case, and therefore, he

Bilaam, the prophet of the nations, was hired by Balak to curse Am denied Hashem completely.
Yisrael. How could such a great person imagine cursing the children The amount of love someone has for an item is measured by how much
of Hashem? exertion he invests into it. Through delving into the Torah day and night,
According to the Ben Ish Chai (quoting the Zohar), the name means a person will come to connect to it with bonds of love.
(without a nation). Bilaam lived for himself, never considering the When a person shields his eyesight from forbidden “sites,” he merits the
public at large. Therefore, he was capable of ignoring the fact that Bnei great light of seeing Hashem’s Presence and is thereby protected from
Yisrael were Hashem’s Chosen People. all sin.

The Torah was given to Am Yisrael only after they demonstrated unity.
Unity is the tool which allows people to observe the mitzvot between man
and his fellow man. Even the nations of the world understood that Bnei
Yisrael received the Torah in the merit of their unity.

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