WEEK THREE
MBNJ YACHAD 2016

Wow what a week! From running around camp bringing kids
who came late to their bunks to serving snacks to all the bunks
in camp, the Yachad crews hard at work. Even though we work
hard we always know how to have fun. When we serve lunch
we always do it with a smile, and when we’re handing out
snacks we always have awesome music to make everyone in a
great mood. We also had the opportunity to go on a fantastic
trip to Bowcraft. Yachad helped supervise the kids and went on
many exciting rides ranging from the merry go rounds to rockin
wooden roller coasters! We had a blast!
Written by: Daphna Becker

 

SHABBAT PARSHAT BALAK
Parshas Balak tells how the wicked king Balak wants to curse the
Jews and hires Billum to do it. It later discusses the event of Billum’s
story when he goes out to curse the nation and it fails, so he leaves
Balak the decision to destroy the Jews in another way.
Several questions I would like to bring up from this story is as
follows:
First, why is the parsha named after Balak rather than Billum for
most of the story is about Billum? My answer is that Balak plans it
all, he’s the one who wants to destroy the Jews.
Second, why does the donkey and not Billum see the angel of death;
was the form of the angel invisible? Rashi’s answer is that if Billam
saw the angel right away it would take away his free will to curse the
Jews. G-d wanted to see what Billum would do every direction he
turned to.
Third, why did Billum ask Balak to build seven alters and provide
certain animals to be sacrificed on them in different locations rather
than build one alter. Rashi’s answer is that just as Avraham, Itzchak
and Yaakov build seven alters and provided those animals to be
sacrificed, so did Billum want to do the same as they did to appease
God, and those areas were different places to view the nation.
Lastly, did Balak really think he could cause the Jews to sin with the
Mohabite woman? I think yes, if the women were successful with
tricking and forcing the Jews into doing it. Therefore, it results as G-d
punishing those Jews. But why punish the Jews if they didn’t mean
to sin? Can you answer this one?
That’s all for this week, Have a good Shabbos.
Written by: Michael Silverman