By Rabbi Yossy Goldman
Isn’t it incredible how King Solomon’s ancient words “There is nothing new under the sun” still hold true over 3,000 years later.
It’s the story of Balaam, the powerful heathen prophet who attempts to curse our ancestors at the behest of King Balak of Moab. But, try as he might, Balaam’s attempts fail dismally.
You may not be aware that it was Balaam who coined the phrase ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael - “How good are your tents, Jacob; your dwellings, Israel, a line that is one of our most well-known synagogue prayers.
Let’s focus here on another of Balaam’s memorable words. He describes Israel as am levadad yishkon, “a nation that dwells alone.” The commentaries offer a variety of interpretations. Some say it refers to this world, while others suggest it means the World to Come. Regardless, they seem to agree that it is intended as a blessing, rather than a curse.
So, it appears that alone does not necessarily mean lonely. Thus, alone may be understood as distinctive, exceptional, and unique.
In March 1972, when former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was Israel’s Ambassador to Washington, he received a request from then President of Israel Zalman Shazar to convey the blessings of the President and Israeli government to the Rebbe on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The Rebbe asked Rabin if he did not feel alone as the Ambassador of Israel among the 120 countries represented in Washington. Rabin said it was an honor for him, even if he did feel lonely at times.
“We have to realize the uniqueness of the Jewish nation,” said the Rebbe, and quoted the above Torah verse describing Israel as “a people that dwells alone.” He asked Rabin whether it is by our own choice or by outside forces that Israel dwells alone among the other nations of the world. Is it a blessing or a curse? In short, is being alone a positive or a negative?
As their conversation continued, the Rebbe answered his own question. “Being alone is both our own choice and forced on us by the nations of the world. On the one hand, we choose to hold fast to the Torah, our faith and traditions. This has preserved our uniqueness through millennia of persecution and wandering.
“On the other hand, external pressures have strengthened the core of Jewish belief and our loyalty to our traditions. In instances where a Jew may have been embarrassed by his Judaism and tried to hide it, there were external elements that forced his Judaism upon him, and this, too, prevented assimilation. So, it is a combination of both - choice and force - which has kept us alone among the nations - a combination of positive and negative.”
Rabin shared with the Rebbe that even the Russians had a begrudging respect for Israel. “The Russian ambassador once told me, ‘You are a small country, but you are a proud country.’”
Yes, we may be alone. But we are distinctive in our Jewish pride, and even in our defiance when necessary. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We have nothing to be prouder of than our distinctive Jewish values and way of life. We may be alone among the nations, but we are not at all alone, for G-d is with us, protecting us and guiding our destiny.
May we all realize that “a people that dwells alone” is not a curse, but a most beautiful blessing.
