Balaak - Active and Passive Power

In the parsha of Balaak, two kinds of relationships to blessing and cursing are mentioned. Of Balaam, the Torah says,כִּ֣י יָדַ֗עְתִּי אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־תְּבָרֵךְ֙ מְבֹרָ֔ךְ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּאֹ֖ר יוּאָֽר. “For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse, is cursed.” Later, when Balaam is compelled by Hashem to bless the Jewish people, he says, מְבָרְכֶ֣יךָ בָר֔וּךְ וְאֹרְרֶ֖יךָ אָרֽוּר. “Whoever blesses you is blessed, and whoever curses you, is cursed.” In these two similar, but yet starkly different passages, the Torah contrasts two kinds of power: active power and passive power. The power of Balaam is that his curses and blessings come true, but we see in this parsha that this power is very limited, and he fails to actualize the desire he has to curse Israel. While today, we may not notice this exact dynamic of a person whose blessings and cursings come true, there are many people who, through their actions, push their will on someone else, whether for good or for bad. People who have active power hold others’ lives in their hands, Balaam felt he had the power to curse the Jewish people, and for this curse to come true, and so he tried three different times, unsuccessfully, to curse Israel. However, Hashem turns his attempted curses into blessings. What can this be compared to today, when people’s attempts to harm each other seem to go unstopped very often? This can be compared to these attempts to harm others often coming out of a feeling of weakness and fear on the part of the one who attempts to destroy a people, or a person. Their feelings of weakness and fear lead to them being vulnerable. This is not to understate the damage they can do. Balaam ends up taking another form of attack against the Israelites, בִּדְבַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֔ם, he sends the daughters of Moab to trip them up. Active power can be, and is, very dangerous. But, fundamentally, the Torah teaches us that passive power, simply being oneself and being someone who shines one’s light into the world and does not attempt to destroy others, is more powerful.

The Torah is very clear that Hashem protects the vulnerable. We, too, should reflect this value and protect the vulnerable. However, like Hashem, we should not underestimate the passive power and courageousness of the vulnerable. He does not simply say he will step in and save the vulnerable, he says he will give them courage. We should not see vulnerable people as simply helpless beings waiting around to be saved. Hashem promises blessing to those who bless Israel, and cursing to those who curse Israel. This comes from the great merit Israel has had of being a light unto the nations. This light promises to be reflected, but cannot be simply disregarded. Vulnerable people deserve protection, but vulnerability should not be mistaken for weakness. There is a great power in simply being oneself in a world that says one should not be that. There is great courage in that too. I believe this parsha says that the kind of internal power that attempts just to survive and thrive is more powerful than a power that attempts to impose one’s will upon another.