Will the World Bless Israel?
After Israel’s resounding defeat of the Amorites the young nation’s surrounding neighbors feared them. The Torah recounts, “Moab was alarmed because that people were so numerous. Moab dreaded the Israelites.” (Numbers 22) And so Balak, the Moabite king, calls his trusted prophet Balaam and insists he curse the Israelites.
Today’s Israel has likewise routed its enemies. Its military might is unrivaled. It has vanquished (although perhaps only temporarily) the strategic threats from Iran and its proxies of Hezbollah, Hamas and despite the sporadic rockets from Yemen, the Houthis. Even though its hostages remain in Gaza’s tunnels Hamas no longer represents a military threat to Israel’s citizens.
And yet Israel’s surrounding nations refuse to accept it. They resist acknowledging Israel’s right to exist. The Zionist dream of becoming a nation like all other nations remains elusive. Israel’s Declaration of Independence envisions that the state will “confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully privileged member of the comity of nations.”
Israel is roundly criticized on the world stage. It is denied equal standing among the family of nations. Its wrongs are called to witness against its founding. Its rights are belittled and begrudged. In the past two years especially, we have witnessed Israel treated as a pariah state.
Balaam set out to curse the Israelites. In the course of his journey miracles change his heart and his curses turn into blessings. He looks out at the Israelites, and his fear is transformed. He instead offers blessings. “As Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the spirit of God came upon him. He said, ‘How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!’” (Numbers 24)
And it is these words that begin our morning prayer services. “Mah tovu ohaalecha, Yaakov, mishk’notecha. Yisrael!” We sing the words of a Moabite prophet. Every morning, we chant the words of our ancient enemy!
These days I am wondering if these words are not our most heartfelt prayer. We yearn to gain the blessings and praise of our neighbors. The Zionist dream was to be a nation like all other nations. Our longing remains for the Jewish people to no longer be treated as an outcast and to be welcomed into the family of nations.
This prayer continues to elude us.
We long to hear the world shout, “Mah tovu!
For now, the situation will remain what it has always been. These words begin our days. Our ancient prayer will remain unfulfilled.