The hidden lights of Parashat Balak according to Breslov and the holy ARIzal
By: Yisrael Yitzchak Rosenfeld
Parashat Balak reveals one of the deepest secrets of Divine Providence.
Balak,
the king of Moab, tries by every possible means
to weaken the people of Israel.
He summons Bilam,
the powerful prophet of the nations, so that he will curse Israel.
But precisely in the place where destruction is planned,
Hashem reveals His blessing.
What Balak intended as a curse, the Eternal transforms into words of everlasting holiness.
From this we learn that
no person,
no situation, and no force in the world is stronger than the Divine Will.
As it is written:
וַיַּהֲפֹךְ ה׳ אֱלֹקֶיךָ לְּךָ אֶת הַקְּלָלָה לִבְרָכָה
“Hashem, your G-d, turned the curse for you into a blessing.”
(Devarim / Deuteronomy 23:6)
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zt”l reveals the same idea:
הירידה היא תכלית העלייה
“The descent is for the purpose of the ascent.”
(Likkutei Moharan I, 22)
Precisely where a person sees only darkness, Hashem is often already preparing the light.
Parashat Balak therefore teaches us
to view reality not only through the eyes of the present moment, but with trust in the hidden guidance of the Creator.
1. “How good are your tents, Yaakov”
Bilam raises his eyes and says:
מַה־טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ יַעֲקֹב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל
“How good are your tents, Yaakov, your dwelling places, Israel.”
(Bamidbar 24:5)
The Gemara explains:
ראה שאין פתחיהם מכוונים זה לזה
“He saw that their entrances were not aligned facing one another.”
(Bava Batra 60a)
Bilam recognized that the greatness of Israel lies not only in miracles,
but in inner purity and mutual respect.
Rabbi Nachman zt”l teaches:
עיקר הקדושה הוא לשמור את המחשבה
“The essence of holiness is to guard one’s thoughts.”
(Likkutei Moharan I, 21)
The tents of Israel also represent the inner sanctuary of every person.
One who guards his thoughts and does not constantly focus on the faults of others
creates space for the presence of the Divine Shechinah.
2. The teaching of the holy ARIzal – Light within darkness
The holy ARIzal teaches that in all areas of creation there are hidden holy sparks.
אין דבר בעולם שאין בו ניצוץ קדוש
“There is nothing in this world that does not contain a holy spark.”
(vgl. Pri Etz Chaim; Shaarei Kedusha)
Bilam embodied great spiritual powers that had fallen into impure realms.
Yet even from this darkness, holiness had to be extracted.
Therefore, precisely through Bilam’s mouth, words were spoken that remain alive in Israel’s prayers until today.
This corresponds to the verse:
יִתְרוֹן הָאוֹר מִן הַחֹשֶׁךְ
“The advantage of light comes from darkness.”
(Kohelet 2:13)
According to the Kabbalah of the ARIzal, the highest revelations are often born precisely where a person initially perceives only concealment.
3. The star from Yaakov
Bilam prophesies:
דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיַּעֲקֹב
“A star shall come forth from Yaakov.”
(Bamidbar 24:17)
Our Sages see in this a reference to the Moshiach.
The star of redemption is sometimes hidden,
but it is already present.
Even though the Geulah is not yet fully revealed, Hashem is constantly working toward its revelation.
4. The speaking donkey – when the ordinary becomes a miracle
The Torah states:
וַיִּפְתַּח ה׳ אֶת פִּי הָאָתוֹן
“Hashem opened the mouth of the donkey.”
(Bamidbar 22:28)
The Mishnah teaches:
פי האתון
“The mouth of the donkey”
was created at twilight on the sixth day of Creation.*
(Pirkei Avot 5:6)
The ARIzal explains that even the lowest levels of the physical world can carry Divine revelation.
Rebbe Nachman ben Feiga zt”l points to the verse:
מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ
“The whole earth is filled with His glory.”
(Yeshayahu 6:3; cf. Likkutei Moharan I, 64)
The message is clear:
Hashem can speak to us through anything.
Often, His messages appear precisely where we least expect them.
What do we learn from Parashat Balak?
- Balak saw danger.
- Bilam searched for faults.
- Hashem revealed beauty.
The choice remains the same today:
- Do we see darkness or hidden light?
- Do we see lack or holy sparks?
- Do we see a curse, or the blessing already in preparation?
Rebbe Nachman zt”l teaches:
צריך לדון את כל אדם לכף זכות
“One must judge every person favorably.”
(Likkutei Moharan I, 282 – Azamra)
One who searches for the good points in others reveals the same power that in our parashah turned curse into blessing.
Parashat Balak teaches us that no obstacle is final and no darkness is eternal.
The holy ARIzal shows us the hidden sparks in all things, and Rebbe Nachman zt”l teaches us to never lose hope.
May we learn to recognize the light behind the trials,
to discover the blessings behind the challenges,
and to always hold firmly to this awareness.
