Bolok- The Letter-Man

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The drama of this week’s Parsha is certainly in the story of Bolok and Bilaam–how Bolok invited Bilaam to curse the Jews, but G-d switched the intended curse into a blessing. But, the Parsha also teaches us much about Bilaam as a person. Especially in giving him the title, “Pisora- The Letter-Man.” (Rashi)

Bilaam was a person who was so effective at cursing people that letters poured in from solicitors begging him to curse their enemies. In fact,Bilaam prided himself that he was so needed by so many. It seems to have boosted his ego.  When G-d asks Bilaam about Bolok’s messengers, Bilaam replies, “Even though I am not significant to You, but kings hold me in the greatest respect.” (Rashi)

I had a Rebbe in yeshiva who used to say, “There is a little bit of Bilaam’s attitude within each of us.” Deep in our hearts, we know that all that really matters is G-d’s opinion of us. Yet, being popular seems to count for something. And, although Bilaam was way out of touch with G-d’s mandate of blessing for the world, Bilaam chooses to impress upon G-d that he, Bilaam, is popular.

When I was in high school, and my Rebbe made these comments, there were no cell phones or internet. There was no temptation to demonstrate ones importance by taking a phone call or reading a text message from one person while in the middle of a conversation with another person. Still, Rebbe observed a quality in human nature, which I think is even more relevant in our time. It seems to me that our generation needs to introspect on why we get a thrill from “You’ve got mail” or from having our phones ring in front of other people, affirming our popularity and worthiness. That is a middah / trait of “Bilaam, the letter-man,” Bilaam, the person whose sense of self was defined by the number of letters he received.

In contrast, I am reminded of a story in the life of Rabbi Avraham Pam z”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah V’Daas in New York. Rabbi Pam once sent a letter of encouragement to a Jew in his neighborhood who was confined to the hospital for an extended period of time. The man treasured the letter and showed it to many of those who visited him. Eventually the man died from the illness, and the funeral took place in the summer when many of those who knew the man were away on vacation. The Rabbi asked to officiate did not know the man personally, but he heard about Rav Pam’s letter, and mentioned it in his eulogy, deducing that the man must have been quite special to have received a personal letter from the celebrated Rosh Yeshiva.

When Rav Pam heard what an impact his letter had made- that it had heartened an ill person, and been the catalyst for a more respectable funeral- he wept, realizing the magnitude of lost opportunities to bring encouragement and respect to other people. He said, “The letter took me just a few minutes to write, a stamp to mail, and look at its impact. Imagine how many lost opportunities there are in life, where we could have sent a letter and made a difference for the better in someone’s life.”

The Mishna in Avos tells us, “Who is honored, one who honors others.” There is false sense that the more mail we receive, the more worthy and popular we are. The real mark of distinction in a letter-man is one who can send a letter of good-will, for such a letter elevates both the sender and the recipient.

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