1. This Sidra and the first Sidra in the Torah — what do they both have in common?
2. What people did Bollok ben Tsipor come from?
3. How come that Bollok ben Tsipor came to be a king of Mo’av?
4. Why didn’t Bollok ask Billom the Sorcerer to bless him and the people of Mo’av that they should be able to withstand the perceived threat of the Israelite People rather than curse the Israelites?
5. What has Midyon got to do with this imagined threat of the approaching Benei Yisroel? Why should they be in cahoots with Mo’av?
6. Rashi tells us that HaShem granted the Nations of the world that they too should have a great prophet, Billom, so that they shouldn’t have any excuse for not being good because, they could say, the Jewish People had the great Novvi Mosheh. So HaShem granted them a great Novvi — Billom. But look at the difference between Mosheh and Billom! So is this fair?
7. At first, HaShem tells Billom that He doesn’t want Billom to go with the Chiefs of Mo’av and Midyan. But then, when Billom nags for permission, HaShem allows him to go, but on certain conditions. What important lesson can we learn from this?
8. What message do you see in the three different hindrances that Billom experienced on his way?
9. Why didn’t HaShem simply tell Billom directly, or through an angel, what He wanted Billom to know. What lesson, do you think, can be learned from HaShem making Billom’s she-ass actually talk to Billom?
10. Do you think that Billom was successful or not successful in what he set out to do?
11. What do we learn from Billom’s exclamation, “I have sinned!” What sin did he do? After all, HaShem told him that he may go!
12. What famous exclamation of praise of the Jewish People, originally said by Billom, is said by us in our Tefilloh every single day?
Question for Haftorah Balak
13. Can you find the connexion between the Sidra and this Haftorah?
