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How could Bilaam achieve Moshe's level of prophecy yet remain completely evil? The shiur develops that Bilaam represents tzimtzum - divine withdrawal - while Moshe represents connection. Bilaam could only function when Klal Yisrael pushed Hashem (ה׳) away, as he did through Ba'al Peor.
This shiur addresses the fundamental paradox of Bilaam: how could someone who represents pure tumah achieve a level of prophecy equal to Moshe Rabbeinu? Rabbi Zweig develops a profound distinction between two types of divine communication that resolves this enigma. The core principle is that Moshe's prophecy was "peh el peh" - a true conversation and relationship with Hashem (ה׳). Every communication involved mutual engagement, where Hashem observed Moshe's reactions and responses. This is why Moshe could say "you didn't tell me" about the malach - because real communication requires responsiveness to the recipient's feelings. Bilaam's prophecy, by contrast, was "vayikar" - cold, one-directional messaging without relationship.
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Up Next in this Series
Why does seeing a sotah inspire one to become a nazir? The nazir's abstention creates a pre-sin state where body and soul exist in perfect harmony. This 30-day period corrects the internal contradiction that led to his original transgression.
How does the covenant of Arvot Moav differ from earlier obligations? The shiur develops the yesod that this covenant created a new level of unity — not just working for the same Master, but collectively becoming a reflection of Hashem's presence. When Klal Yisrael embraces yichud Hashem as a shared vision rather than individual service, future generations become bound, teshuvah becomes natural, and mutual responsibility reaches the depth of "kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh."
Why was Miriam punished with tzaraas when her criticism of Moshe seemed justified? The shiur develops a yesod based on a Midrash that Miriam's error wasn't lashon hara in the conventional sense — she actually intended to help with a shalom bayis issue — but rather her failure to search out Moshe's unique madrega and recognize that his separation from his wife was a halachic requirement for his level of nevuah, not just a chumra. This reframes the entire mitzvah of "zachor es asher asah Hashem" as an obligation to actively seek out people's hidden ma'alos.
Parshas Balak
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What is the primary purpose of the cities of refuge - protecting the accidental killer or something else? The shiur argues that creating respect for law takes precedence over providing sanctuary. True deterrence comes from recognizing the gravity of murder itself, not fear of punishment.
