Rabbi YY Jacobson
[Shalom Starts Within Yourself]
... When a person is fragmented within himself, it causes him not to be in unison with others... ... when he is in peace with himself, that causes the person to be peaceful and united with others...
... This [shalom] is also a vessel that contains blessings b’gashmious within it, as the Mishnah [Oktzin Perek 3, Mishanah 12.] explains...
... The Shaloh, P242,1 e writes that a single machlokes chases away a hundred parnosos, and the Sefer Ir Hagiborim Parshas Naso, on the pasuk “..veyaseim lecha shalom,” states that through shalom, there comes an abundance in parnasa and sustenance...
This week's Torah portion, Balak, tells the amusing story of Balaam, a prophet and archenemy of the Jewish people, who was summoned by the Moabite king to curse Israel. In the end, in lieu of curses, the prophet gushes forth the most splendid poetry ever written about the uniqueness and destiny of the Jewish people. His poetry has become classic, a wellspring of inspiration for thousands of years.
In one of the stanzas, Balaam declares: "How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; Your dwellings, O Israel!"
This is a verse Jews came to love so profoundly that they start the morning prayers with it every day, for 365 days a year. The opening of our prayers is not with a quote from Moses or another Jewish sage or poet, but with the words uttered but by the gentile Balaam. And today I wish to share with you an inspiring interpretation on this verse by the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), founder of the Chassidic movement.
“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob; Your dwellings, O Israel,” Balaam says. There are tents and there are dwellings. The tents belong to Jacob; the dwellings to Israel. But this seems to be a redundant statement? What is the difference between tents and dwellings, and why is one associated with Jacob, the other with Israel?
A Tale of Two Structures
In the physical sense, the difference between a tent and a dwelling is simple. A tent is a temporary structure, initially designed to be taken apart with the same swiftness it was pitched, while a dwelling connotes a permanent edifice. On a symbolic level, “tents” and “dwellings” represent two diverse spiritual pathways. There are human beings who carve out of their hearts a permanent dwelling space for the Divine. Their epiphany with G-d never ends. His presence in their lives is consistent and undeviating. Their homes and spirits serve as an abode for G-d.
But then there are the individuals who are not so spiritually sensitive or exalted. These human beings are too overwhelmed with the stress of daily life, to be able to continuously breathe-in a G-d-centered consciousness. The confusions of the heart, the pressures in the office, the burdens of holding a family together, the endless deadline and the many vicissitudes of life's experiences, deprive them of their ability to remain forever inspired and focused on the divine truths of existence. Add to this the incessant materialistic lusts and demands of a human body, which often completely eclipse G-d’s reality.
Nevertheless, even these individuals, once in a while – perhaps early in the morning, late at night, or sometimes in the midst of a hectic day – experience a yearning to spend a few moments with G-d. Even people of this category sense, every once in a while, a frustration, a void, which leads them to open their hearts to G-d. They then construct a tent, a temporary space to which they invite G-d, if only for a brief while. It may be, for example, a few moments before sunset. A Jew, immersed in work, suddenly reminds himself that he did not “daven mincah” (pray the traditional dusk service). He runs into shul (synagogue) and starts talking to G-d, swiftly. In 8 minutes he is done. What he is essentially saying is, “G-d, I do not have much time; I have so much on my head today. So let's just spend eight minutes together. Let us cover the basics and I will be off to deal with the big tough world out there.” This Jew by no means creates a fixed and permanent dwelling for G-d. At best, he erects a tent, where he and G-d spend a few moments together.
To be continued...
