Summary

The nation of Moab employed the wicked Bilam to come and curse the Jews. If G'd did not want Bilam to go, why did He tell him to join the Moabite messengers? This Sunday is the fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz. Through prayer we do have the power to change a Heavenly decree. Through her prayer Leah managed to change the Heavenly decree, and in the end she even got married to Jacob before Rachel. There are two major merits that can help to change a person's mazel, the merit of prayer and charity. The Jewish people have prayed for almost two thousand years, three times a day, to get out of exile, and we have never given up.

Bilam and Balak

In this week's parasha the Torah describes how the nation of Moab was frightened of the Jewish people, and how they employed the wicked Bilam to come and curse the Jews. Bilam, who was a prophet, knew that he could not do anything without Divine assistance. He told the messengers from Moab that they would have to stay overnight, and only the next day he could tell them whether G'd would allow him to go with them. That night, G'd appeared to Bilam and said to him (Bamidbar 22:12): "Do not go with them. Do not curse the nation for it is blessed." But Balak, the king of Moab, did not give up, and he sent a larger and more distinguished delegation to plead with Bilam to come. Again, Bilam told them to wait till the next day, when he would tell them what G'd instructed him. This time G'd said (Bamidbar 22:20): "If the men came to summon you, get up and go with them."

Divine assistance for strong desire

An obvious question arises, why did G'd change His mind? If G'd did not want Bilam to go, why did He tell him to join the Moabite messengers? The Talmud (Makkos 10b) addresses this and says that this teaches us that when a person has a strong desire to do something, he will receive Divine assistance to do so. However, if we analyze what Bilam managed to accomplish on his travel, we see that G'd does not allow everything the person wants to do to take place. For at the end of the day, G'd only allowed Bilam to travel to Moab, but as Bilam himself constantly said, he would only be able to say what G'd instructed him. And of course, G'd only instructed him to bless the Jewish people.

G'd's masterplan

We learn from this that although we have free will to do good or evil, and G'd will assist us to accomplish what we choose, nevertheless no one will be able to harm others unless it fits with G'd's masterplan for the world in which every individual has a place. However, this opens up a host of questions, as we find many verses in Tanach, and statements of our sages, as well as real life situations that seem to contradict the above.

17th of Tammuz

This Sunday is the fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz (postponed one day as we do not fast on Shabbos) to commemorate the beginning of the downfall of Jerusalem, as well as other calamities that took place on this date. With this we commence the yearly three weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Temple, and the long and bitter exile that we still suffer under.

Prayer changes a Heavenly decree

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 551:2) rules that throughout this period one may not celebrate weddings, but it is permissible to get engaged, even on the fast day of Tisha B'Av, the day both Temples were destroyed, besides many other tragedies that occurred on that fateful date. The Jerusalem Talmud (Ta'anis 1:8) explains that this permission is due to the concern that otherwise someone else may get in first and get engaged to the other party. We find a similar ruling in the Babylonian Talmud (Mo'ed Katan 18b) in regards to Chol Hamoed (the intermediate days of) Pesach and Succos. There the Talmud asks how can someone interfere with another person's match, as we have learned that matches are decreed in Heaven. The Talmud answers that it does not mean that another person can grab a match destined for another party just like that. However, says the Talmud, through prayer we do have the power to change a Heavenly decree. Therefore, it is indeed possible that another person could get in first.

Leah and Rachel

We find such a case by our Matriarch Leah who managed to change her match through constant intense prayers. The Torah (Bereishis 29:16-17) relates that Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. "Leah's eyes were tender and Rachel was beautiful." The Midrash Rabbah (Bereishis 70:16) explains that the tenderness of Leah's eyes was due to her excessive crying. Everyone knew that Rivkah had two sons, and her brother Laban had two daughters. It only seemed natural that just like Isaac had been destined to marry his cousin Rivkah, so were Esau and Jacob destined to marry their cousins, the older Esau to the older Leah, and the younger Jacob to the younger Rachel. But Leah constantly cried and prayed to G'd, "May it be Your will that I shall not fall to the lot of that wicked person." The Midrash concludes that it was not easy, but through her prayer Leah managed to change the Heavenly decree, and in the end she even got married to Jacob before her sister.

Mazel

Obviously, the power of prayer is not limited just to change one's match but applies to any need a person has, such as to change a difficult situation. The Talmud (Moed Katan 28a) teaches that a person's lifespan, having children and a person's livelihood are not dependent on the person's merits but on the person's mazel (Zodiac constellation at the time when the person was born). Tosaphoth in their commentary (Shabbos 156a) ask that this seems to contradict what Rabbi Yochanan and other sages teach (Shabbos ibid) that Jews are not affected by mazel. Tosaphoth answer that the Talmud does not mean to say that these things do not depend at all on merits. Rather, it means that regular, small daily merits are not sufficient to influence them, but a major merit definitely can change a person's situation. Rashi (ibid) explains that there are two major merits that can help to change a person's mazel, the merit of prayer and charity.

Never give up

We never know how many prayers, or how many donations to charity, are needed to change our difficulties in life. The Jewish people have prayed for almost two thousand years, three times a day, to get out of exile, and we have never given up. Who knows how many times Leah cried her heart out in prayer before she managed to change the Heavenly decree. We must keep up our spirits and continue to pray and give charity, as well as take any merit that comes our way, for only G'd knows what it takes. And we must always remember that even if G'd does not grant our request, every prayer has an effect, and eventually we will be richly rewarded for our efforts.

These words were based on a talk given by Rabbi Avraham Kahn, the Rosh Yeshiva and Founder of Yeshivas Keser Torah in Toronto.

These words were based on a talk given by Rabbi Avraham Kahn, the Rosh Yeshiva and Founder of Yeshivas Keser Torah in Toronto.

Shalom. Michael Deverett