In a world besieged with Jew hatred, some Jews may be tempted to lay low and suppress their Jewishness. Others are compelled to fight back and dispel the lies perpetuated by the haters. While the merits of each of these methods may be argued, neither addresses the root cause. Through the ages, those who have carried Bilaam’s legacy of hate are unaffected by both Jewish timidity or rational arguments. This degree of hatred, in essence, must be countered with a potent Moshiach-esque response: a total unwavering commitment to what makes Jews Jewish. Jewishness is not just a religious affiliation, dress code, or bagels and lox, it’s an essential identity bestowed by G-d. Only through a relentless commitment to Torah study and proud observance of its mitzvot do Jews quell the onslaught of Jew hatred—infusing Moshiach-like energy into the world by confronting the irrational forces of evil with the higher-than-rational adherence to G-d’s covenant.
- Bilaam’s intention to curse the Jewish nation is replaced with a prophetic vision of Moshiach. G-d chose the one most evil to be the initial herald of the most good for a transformation that is indicative of the Moshiach era.
By choosing Bilaam to launch the idea of Moshiach prophecy, G-d conveys the essential function of Moshiach.
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