On the surface, it’s about a bird crowing at dawn. But the deeper meaning is about discernment—the ability to tell the difference between what should be said and what should be left unsaid. In a world overflowing with voices and opinions, Parshat Balak reminds us that speech, especially when wielded by leaders, prophets, or influencers, holds immense power.
In Parshat Balak, the Moabite king Balak is terrified of the Israelites and hires the prophet Balaam to curse them. Balaam, though initially reluctant, agrees to go—but only speaks what God puts in his mouth. Each time he tries to curse the Israelites, blessings emerge instead. Ultimately, Balaam utters one of the Torah’s most poetic verses: “Mah tovu ohalecha Ya’akov…” “How good are your tents, O Jacob.” The people are blessed, despite Balak’s intent, and Balaam’s tongue becomes an instrument of holiness.
The daily blessing over the rooster’s discernment is a metaphor for human speech. The Talmud connects this blessing to the idea of binah—understanding when to speak and what to say. Balaam, though not an Israelite prophet, is held to a high standard: he must speak only what is true and just. His transformation from curse-bringer to blessing-giver mirrors our daily aspiration to use speech for good. In a world where lashon hara (harmful speech) is easily shared, Parshat Balak elevates the opposite: words that uplift, protect, and sanctify.
This week, consider how you use your voice. Are you contributing to light or deepening the darkness? The morning blessing about the rooster challenges us to begin each day with discernment—choosing speech that blesses rather than curses, that clarifies rather than confuses, and that reveals the light in others rather than their flaws. Like Balaam, may we find ourselves surprised by the holiness that emerges when we let blessing lead.
Rooster’s Wisdom
Every morning, Jews begin the day with a series of blessings called Birkot HaShachar—blessings for waking up, for breath, and for clarity. Among them is a rather curious line: “Blessed are you … who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night.”
On the surface, it’s about a bird crowing at dawn. But the deeper meaning is about discernment—the ability to tell the difference between what should be said and what should be left unsaid. In a world overflowing with voices and opinions, Parshat Balak reminds us that speech, especially when wielded by leaders, prophets, or influencers, holds immense power.
In Parshat Balak, the Moabite king Balak is terrified of the Israelites and hires the prophet Balaam to curse them. Balaam, though initially reluctant, agrees to go—but only speaks what God puts in his mouth. Each time he tries to curse the Israelites, blessings emerge instead. Ultimately, Balaam utters one of the Torah’s most poetic verses: “Mah tovu ohalecha Ya’akov…” “How good are your tents, O Jacob.” The people are blessed, despite Balak’s intent, and Balaam’s tongue becomes an instrument of holiness.
The daily blessing over the rooster’s discernment is a metaphor for human speech. The Talmud connects this blessing to the idea of binah—understanding when to speak and what to say. Balaam, though not an Israelite prophet, is held to a high standard: he must speak only what is true and just. His transformation from curse-bringer to blessing-giver mirrors our daily aspiration to use speech for good. In a world where lashon hara (harmful speech) is easily shared, Parshat Balak elevates the opposite: words that uplift, protect, and sanctify.
This week, consider how you use your voice. Are you contributing to light or deepening the darkness? The morning blessing about the rooster challenges us to begin each day with discernment—choosing speech that blesses rather than curses, that clarifies rather than confuses, and that reveals the light in others rather than their flaws. Like Balaam, may we find ourselves surprised by the holiness that emerges when we let blessing lead.
On the surface, it’s about a bird crowing at dawn. But the deeper meaning is about discernment—the ability to tell the difference between what should be said and what should be left unsaid. In a world overflowing with voices and opinions, Parshat Balak reminds us that speech, especially when wielded by leaders, prophets, or influencers, holds immense power.
In Parshat Balak, the Moabite king Balak is terrified of the Israelites and hires the prophet Balaam to curse them. Balaam, though initially reluctant, agrees to go—but only speaks what God puts in his mouth. Each time he tries to curse the Israelites, blessings emerge instead. Ultimately, Balaam utters one of the Torah’s most poetic verses: “Mah tovu ohalecha Ya’akov…” “How good are your tents, O Jacob.” The people are blessed, despite Balak’s intent, and Balaam’s tongue becomes an instrument of holiness.
The daily blessing over the rooster’s discernment is a metaphor for human speech. The Talmud connects this blessing to the idea of binah—understanding when to speak and what to say. Balaam, though not an Israelite prophet, is held to a high standard: he must speak only what is true and just. His transformation from curse-bringer to blessing-giver mirrors our daily aspiration to use speech for good. In a world where lashon hara (harmful speech) is easily shared, Parshat Balak elevates the opposite: words that uplift, protect, and sanctify.
This week, consider how you use your voice. Are you contributing to light or deepening the darkness? The morning blessing about the rooster challenges us to begin each day with discernment—choosing speech that blesses rather than curses, that clarifies rather than confuses, and that reveals the light in others rather than their flaws. Like Balaam, may we find ourselves surprised by the holiness that emerges when we let blessing lead.
