Parshas Balak: Reject the Enemy Within

The Torah reading this week, Parshas Balak: Numbers 22:2-25:9, examines two tactics used to destroy Jewish culture. The portion opens with the Israelites encamped at the edge of the Promised Land, having recently vanquished several enemy tribes. Balak, the Moabite King, fears the Hebrews will next attack him. He consults with the Midianites to develop a strategy to stop the Jewish army.

Learning that their military successes are divinely destined, Balak attempts to disrupt their Heaven sent protection by hiring an anti-semitic soothsayer named Balaam to curse the Jews. God forbids Balaam to carry out the plan, ordering him to bless the Jews, instead. Not giving up the desire to eradicate the Jews, Balak and Balaam implement Plan B: Remove protection from Heaven by collapsing the moral integrity of the Hebrew culture. Introduce hedonism, sexual sin, idolatry and lawless rebellion.

Unaware of the strategy, many vulnerable Jews fall pray to the intentional manipulation and propaganda by their enemies. Rampant violation of Torah law results, prompting God to send a devastating plague into their midst, and instructing Moses to order all 78,000 judges to each execute two men guilty of worshipping Baal-Pe'or. So, 156,000 people are put to death in this way. Faced with imminent death, rebels within the tribe of Simeon launch an insurrection against Moses, brought to an end when Pinchas slays the leader of the revolt. The plague kills all 24,000 insurgents.

In the Haftorah portion this week, Michah (Micah) 5:6 - 6:8, the prophet refers to Balak and Balaam as he encourages his countrymen to return to their moral contract with the Almighty. Micah prophesies during the reign of King Ahaz. In 2 Kings 16:1-4, we learn that Ahaz endorses and personally practices child sacrifice. Micah warns that this egregious sin along with other pagan observances will cause the downfall of Israel.

He reminds the people about the miracles and wonders of the Almighty God, emphasizing that God desires holiness and loyalty, not senseless wickedness. He cautions them that offering animal sacrifices will not atone for these willful acts that disrespect the will of the Creator. In Micah 6:8, the prophet patiently explains the basics of Judaism to those who cannot understand. "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

While outward threats to Jewish safety and survival are closely monitored, sinister internal threats to our existence receive little attention or tend to be actively discouraged. Serious minded, concerned Jews who speak out in favor of internal reforms that return Judaism to its authentic, life affirming theology pose a threat to establishment leadership that endorses the same wickedness that got us into trouble in our Torah portion. The fear of donor disengagement and losing position in peer and professional groups overrides fear of Heaven, leading to a culture that justifies destroying lives and souls in its pursuit of personal ambition and satisfaction.

A majority of Jews and Jewish leaders consider abortion moral, acceptable to one degree or another, legal and even virtuous. This aggravates animus towards Jews in a time of rising tensions. The dangers of anti-semitic backlash go unacknowledged as does the tragic reality that we’re killing our own children in the womb. We're doing the work of our enemies without realizing the significance of the slaughter or the source of the attack.

A new Pew Research Center study reveals this existential threat. The study shows that we have been unable to recover demographically from the Holocaust.

80 Years Later, Global Jewish Population Still Trails Pre-Holocaust Levels, Study Finds

https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2422880/80-years-later-global-jewish-population-still-trails-pre-holocaust-levels-study-finds.html

Pew Report Here

We believe that every Jew, no matter how influenced or corrupted by the death cult of abortion ideology, has a capacity for change because God includes a Divine element in our nature, making psychic restoration possible. Change occurs when we learn the evil truth about abortion and realize how we’ve been abused, manipulated, and used in our own demise. The misguided determination to destroy life yields to a deep desire to love all human life at every stage of development, thus turning evil into goodness and inspiring even the most irredeemable soul to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

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Cecily Routman 

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and good life upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.

Cecily Routman is the founder and president of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation. She opposes abortion homicide in general and among Jews in particular and laments secular policy making in Israel that results in loss of Jewish life and delays the messianic redemption. She envisions a Torah based holy Land of Israel and a world that respects the life of every human being from conception.