Parashat Balak
As I write this d'var Torah so soon after the shooting in Highland Park, IL., I am struck by the hate or the fear that brings this behavior. The fear of the unknown, of an individual or community that isn't like us. I am disturbed by the unwillingness to accept the stranger, yet we are a nation founded on strangers. I am scared that people have such difficulty acknowledging the differences among us and seeing them as strengths. I worry about the lack of help and compassion for those who emotionally can't find their ground. I am also in awe of God's might and ability to remind our Jewish community of his teachings.
