July 3, 2009
11 Tammuz, 5769

We just never know where a blessing will come from. Consider the unlikely encounter with a talking donkey in this week’s parasha. In Parashat Balak, (Numbers 22:7), news reaches the Moabite King Balak that Israelites have engaged in many successful battles against their enemies. King Balak’s course of action is rather unusual- he hires the non-Israelite prophet Balaam to put a curse on the Israelite army. At first reluctant, Balaam finally agrees, for a fee, to accompany Balak and deliver the curse. Displeased, God puts an angel in Balaam’s path to stop him. When Balaam is undeterred, God then causes Balaam’s donkey to speak, getting Balaam’s attention long enough to notice the angel standing in his path. Through this encounter, Balaam realizes that he would only be able to speak the words God puts in his mouth. He could, then, guarantee neither curse nor blessing for King Balak. In the end, Balaam blesses the Israelites, with the well-known words which now part of our daily morning liturgy: “Behold how good are your tents Jacob, and your dwellings, Israel!” This is quite a blessing coming from an “outsider” in a world where “outsiders” were usually seen as a threat.

Today, there are more portals of entry into the Jewish tent for those once considered outside of, and even a threat to, the Jewish community. We are enriched by these non-Jews who enter our community. In the outreach work that the JCC does, we find that there are several ways non-Jews engage with the Jewish community. Some enter our tent through conversion. Some enter by marrying a Jew, but not converting. Some of these intermarried families commit to raising a Jewish family or celebrating with Jewish relatives. Some choose to work for the Jewish community, agreeing to support and transmit our values. The JCC of Chicago is particularly blessed by the many non-Jews who choose to work here. For example, our maintenance workers take such care in following the Jewish calendar and incorporating things such as preparing our buildings for Passover, setting up a sukkah, helping decorate for holidays, such as Purim and Yom Ha’atzmaut, and making sure the rules of kashrut are followed at Camp Chi. We have Early Childhood teachers who have made the effort to acquire language skills for new songs and prayers, and who welcome Shabbat in their classrooms with genuine joy. On Fridays, Jew and non-Jew greet each other with, “Shabbat Shalom.” There are program and administrative staff throughout the agency who honor JCC’s mission, learning about Jewish values and daily bringing them to life. In small and great ways, they are beginning a journey of Jewish exploration and learning which often inspires born Jews to view their Jewish heritage in a new eyes and interest. In very real ways, they bless us with the work of their hands. All of these folks voluntarily come inside the tent. It is up to us to welcome them, teach them and learn from them.

Balaam saw the Jewish community from afar and perhaps saw things even those inside the tents didn’t see. Today there are those who see what Balaam saw and, as a result, choose to come closer to the Jewish community. Now when we read, “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael” we recognize that the people in our tent [ohel] have changed as a result of living in an open society. We have become more inclusive and able to view the gifts of all who choose to enter the big tent of the Jewish community as valuable.

May your Shabbat be filled with blessings from near and far.

Shabbat Shalom