ALONE BUT NOT LONELY

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Eliana on her birthday tonight, on same day as the release of the Frierdike Rebbe from imprisonment (Yud Bes and Yud Gimmel Tammuz). Wishing you a wonderful year Eliana, and to grow and develop all of your many beautiful qualities, and with much joy!

In this week's Sedra Balak, the powerful heathen prophet, Bilam, tries to curse the Jewish people at the request of Balak, the King of Moav.

But instead, the most amazing blessings ensue from Bilam, because he understands that Hashem will not allow the curses.

I saw an interesting editorial about the above, which I wanted to share:

One of the expressions that Bilam uses to describe Am Yisrael is, "A NATION THAT DWELLS ALONE" - Am levadad yishkon. (23:9)

There are different interpretations about what this means, but all are in agreement that it is a blessing and not a curse.

IT THEREFORE MEANS THAT THIS ALONE, DOES NOT MEAN LONELY!

Rather, distinctive, exceptional, and unique.

In 1972, the former Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin visited the Rebbe, to convey President Zalman Shazar's birthday wishes to the Rebbe on his 70th birthday (as Rabin was then Israel's Ambassador in Washington).

The Rebbe asked him if he did not feel alone among the 120 countries represented in Washington, quoting the above verse?

And he also asked if this loneliness comes about through our choice or is it forced upon us from the Nations of the world?

Through the conversation the Rebbe answered that it is both of the above.

On the one hand we choose to hold on to the Torah, our faith and our traditions - this has preserved us through millenia of persecution.

On the other hand external pressures have strengthened us, and in instances where a Jew may have been embarrassed by his Judaism and tried to hide it, there arose external elements that forced his Judaism upon him (or her).

We may be alone among the Nations, but we are not at all alone, because Hashem is with us, protecting us and guiding our destiny.

We have nothing to be ashamed of. Only pride in our distinctive Jewish values and way of life.

Gut Shabbos to all!