Tag: Balaam

“In a problematic situation, when it is possible to be so critical, it is important to find the good, to connect with it, to love it, to increase it and then let it grow and look at reality,” Fraenkel said.

Israel dwells alone.

The Mennonites must understand, in God's eyes they are now Cursed.

This week, a "Spiritual Cafe" hour-long special: The Torah shifts its camera angle from a story about the Jewish people to the perspective of other nations who are afraid of Israel and their God. After realizing that physical weapons are futile, the evil King Balak hires the wicked wizard Balaam to curse the Jews - will he succeed? Rabbi Mike Feuer joins Rabbi Yishai for an in-depth discussion of this epic struggle between blessings and curses and trails the Biblical narrative which includes a wise-ass she-donkey who talks back to her master, a Godly angel with a drawn battle sword, and ill-advised Jewish forays into licentiousness and even fecal idolatry. Don't miss the drama!

Yishai hosts ZOA Israel Director Jeff Daube, International Committee for the Preservation of Har HaZeitim (ICPHH) chair Abe Lubinsky, committee volunteer Dr. Paul Rosenstock and Rabbi Mike Feuer.Daube, Lubinsky and Rosenstock discuss the work of the ICPHH, dedicated to stopping the defilement of Judaism’s oldest and holiest cemetery, with more than 150,000 graves. Through neglect on the part of Israeli authorities and acts of anti-Semitism, it has been desecrated and its visitors and mourners attacked. Then, Yishai is joined by Rabbi Mike Feuer to delve into this week’s Torah portion, Balak, where curses are transformed into blessings.

Let's revel in Peter Beinart's unintended "Ma Tovu" praise of the Jewish state: "It’s modern; it’s democratic; it’s pro-American."