This coming Shabbat's Torah portion, read in Israel on Saturday, July 01, is Balak. This week’s portion tells the story of the Moabite king Balak, who hires Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam’s donkey speaks along the way, and Balaam ends up blessing the Israelites. The portion ends with a story about Israelite men sinning with Moabite women and the stabbing of an Israelite and a Midianite. 

This week's thoughts by our popular teacher Dr. Benny Benjamin talks about “Who are these men with you”? – “Tell me who your friends are….”. Read it below.

Last week, our popular Root Source teacher Rabbi Gedalia Meyer talked about "Chukat". Watch it below.

We are delighted to share our lesson What is Wisdom? with our teacher Rabbi Aryeh Leifert. Learn it here.

Check below to hear what Jason Caplan and Gidon Ariel have to say. Watch it below.

We sign off with a nice comment and a beautiful photo of Beit She'arim National Park, Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel.

Shalom,

Gidon Ariel and Bob O’Dell  

Root Source Founders

King Balak of Moab retains the sorcerer Balaam to curse the Jewish people. Instead of curses, only blessings come out of his mouth—including prophecies concerning the Messianic redemption. Moabite women entice some of the Israelites to sin, resulting in a plague amongst the Jews. Phinehas zealously kills two of the high-ranking offenders, and the plague comes to an end.

“Who are these men with you”? – “Tell me who your friends are….”

Balak, king of Moav, was desperately fearful of the Israelite nation, given his weak military prowess. His idea was to outsource aid to his kingdom. He sent a royal delegation to recruit Bil’am, an eminent gentile prophet, to apply his magical powers to curse the Israelite people and help rid Moav of the perceived threat.

Chukat:

Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study

Fight fire with fire and fight snakes with a copper snake emblazoned on a pole. This seems to have been G-d’s strategy for saving Israel from the poisonous snakes that He, Himself sent to quiet their complaining. Was there something truly curative about this copper image of a snake that smacks suspiciously of idolatry, G-d forbid? Or was it simply a way to get the people to pick up their heads and gaze heavenward, where their real salvation would come? Was HaShem counting upon mankind’s endless quest for straws to grasp onto?

What is Wisdom

Rabbi Leifert asks and then tries to answer the question: What is Wisdom? He answers it by telling the story of King Solomon, the very story that resulted in the book of Proverbs being written in the first place.

Conversations:

Gidon Ariel and Jason Caplan

Here are some of the things that Gidon and Dr Richard Booker talked about:

• For a good number of months–perhaps even years!–Gidon has been holding Conversations with interesting people. Most noticeably we have been having weekly talks with Dr. Richard Booker.
• This week, we introduce a new friend, Jason Caplan.
• In this introductory session, Gidon introduces himself and Root Source, and Jason introduces himself and the Universal Language Room.

and much more!

We get so many comments!
Here is one from Christine A Hickey on blog post 

Situation Update from the Orbachs in Israel

"I truly appreciate this article which informs those of us in the USA. We love and support Israel. I am praying for peace in Israel. May you remain safe and protected."

Enjoy this photo in Beit She'arim National Park, Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel by Faith Gleyze