Dear Friend,
Balak the King of Moav was evry motivated to weaken and even destroy the Israelites for he feared their power. From witnessing the defeat of his mighty protectors, Sichon, King of the Emorites and Og, King of Bashan, he knew he had no chance against the Israelites in war. He would attempt a new strategy; cursing. To curse the people he hired the world renowned (and very expensive) curser, the prophet Bilam. But try as he would to curse the people, he simply could not utter even the simplest curse. He opened his mouth and all that came out was blessings! Not your run of the mill blessings either, but some of the most profound blessings ever pronounced, that are still in use today among our people. Balak was furious. His enemy; Israel, was not only not vanquished, but bolstered through divine blessings! Israel came out stronger and more powerful because of Balak’s attack.

Fastfoward to today’s date in 1927. The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe was released from Soviet prison after an arrest and death sentence for his work in keeping Judaism alive in Russia. His enemies were determined to sentence him to death and finally be rid of him and his self-sacrificing, G-d fearing followers. But he just wouldn’t die! Against all their intentions and attempts to put him to death, he survived, was released and he and his Chabad movement got stronger and stronger.

The Master of the Universe, G-d Almighty, has his plans, we don’t understand them fully, but we do know that no enemy of flesh and blood has any power of us, despite their seeming formidability. Am Yisrael Chai! We survive our enemies as they disappear into the books of history. May G-d continue to protect us, keep our soldiers safe and release the hostages now and bring peace to Israel and the whole world entire.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zushe Cunin