Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

1)         Faculty Dvar Torah – Mrs. Bracha Krohn

2)         Mazal Tov

3)         Mi SheBerach

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Ma Tovu!

Mrs. Bracha Krohn

In this week’s parsha we learn about Bilaam being forced to bless Bnei Yisrael. In his third blessing, Bilaam looks out at the tribes set up around the mishkan and comments on the way they have constructed their tents: "Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov, mishkinotecha Yisrael".  How good are your tents, Yaakov – your dwelling places, Yisrael!

How is Bilaam blessing us/complimenting us?

Chazal, our sages, state that Bilaam saw that the tents’ openings did not face each other, so people could not see into each other’s tents (See Rashi).  Bilaam was praising our high level of sensitivity towards privacy and tzniut! This should make us pause and ask if we are still that aware and careful about privacy. Would we merit such praise today? Are Jews losing their sense of propriety and basic tzniut along with the rest of the world?

The Kli Yakar interprets this comment by Chazal as referring to the way we would not be able to look at each other with an “evil eye” (ayin hara) – we could not and would not hurt each other with jealousy and resentment.

Although this is the most well-known interpretation of this pasuk, there are many other commentaries as well. Rabbi Ovadia Sforno writes that the praise here is for our tents of learning, as the Torah talks about “the tents of Jacob” and the “tents of Shem”. These were our forefathers who had a close relationship with G-d and his desires for the world and for us. So Bilaam is praising our houses of study.

The book “Taam V’daat” states that “tent” refers to a temporary dwelling, and here Bilaam is praising the Jewish people’s understanding that this world is a temporary stop in our journey. We understand that the whole picture includes more than just what meets the eye.

Another reading of this line is suggested by Rashi; this refers to our houses of worship – the tent in Shiloh, i.e. the mishkan, tabernacle.  Perhaps, for this reason/reading, we start our prayers every morning with this line. As we enter a shul, we repeat this line, thus suggesting that whoever added it into the prayer book followed this second reading of Rashi.  Our shuls today represent the mishkan/temple where the Jews used to offer korbanot.

However, we can strive to continue to be deserving of this blessing and earn its praise, according to all the aforementioned interpretations and in all of these areas; our valuing privacy/tzniut, our feeling generous towards each other, our dedication to Torah study and our outlook on this world.

Shabbat Shalom

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Mazel Tov!               

Weddings

Rachel Itzkowitz ('05-'06) and Bryan Salamon

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

Leora Erdfarb ('05-'06, '06-'07)and Ari Ringelheim   Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael 

Sivan Kerem ('05-'06, Madricha '10-'11) and Shy Krug on their wedding

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael   

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Mi SheBerach List

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

Names added this week:

For complete 5772 list, please go to: http://midreshetmoriah.com/alumnae/?id=464