The Curse of Divisiveness

"Come please, with me unto another place from where you may see them, only the edge of them shall you see and all of them you shall not see, and curse them for me there." [Bamidbar 23.13]

Thrice did Balak prepare the altars and the sacrifices for Bilam to use in cursing the Jewish people. When Balak's scheme fails the first time, he switches to anothwer location, and from this second location Balak expects Bilam's curse to take hold as Balak says: "Com, please, with me unto another place from where you may see them, only the edge of them shall you see and all of them you shall not see, and curse them for me from there. And he took him to the field of Tzofim..."

ALthough he saw only "the edge of them," that is, those at the far extremes and not the entire people with all their variety and color, the wicked Bilam could nevertheless generalize from those at the extremes about the whole nation. In our day and age there are many, particularly in the local and worldwide media, who criticize and draw conclusions about the Jewish people, or broad segments within it, based on the actions of a few narrow, zealous, extremist elements.
In so doing, they sow the seeds of internal conflict among us and bring about divisiveness and other evils, far worse.

Our emphasis must be on the beautiful within our people, and the common interests and dreams that unite us as Bilam's prophecy finally describes us (Bamidbar 24.5): "How goodly are your tents, O'Jacob, your dwellings, O'Israel." When the Jewish nation is wholly represented with all of its shades and colors, our prayers will be heard and our aspirations realized.