He has not beheld any wrong in Jacob, nor has he seen evil in Israel: The L-rd his G-d is with him, and the glory of the king dwells among him. (Num. 23:21)
Rabbi Yitzchak of Vorka used to say: It states in the holy Zohar that “The Holy One, Blessed Be He, the Torah and Israel are one.” The same way one cannot pick G-d or His Torah apart by saying, “This particular verse of the Torah doesn’t appeal to me,” so too, should we approach our fellow Jew, treating him with respect and acknowledging his importance to the Jewish People as a whole.”
What this people will do to your people in the end of days (Num. 24:14)
The Torah tells us that right before Moshiach’s arrival there will be those who will want to turn “this people” into “your (Balak’s) people”--for Jews to adopt the ways and practices of the non-Jewish nations. (Reb Bunim)
And now come, I pray you, and curse me this people (Num. 22:4)
It is interesting to note the language Balak used when he asked Bilaam to curse the Jewish people: “Curse me” he said, words which can also be interpreted to mean that he himself should be cursed, which is exactly what eventually happened. One must always think before speaking and pay attention to the words we use. (Shaloh Hakadosh)
