The Secret of Jewish Survival: The Power of Torah and Prayer

"How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel" (Bemidbar 24:5).

According to the Sforno, Bilam's famous blessing referred to the spiritual centers of the Jewish people. "Your tents, O Jacob" refers to the batei midrash, the study halls where Torah is learned. "Your dwelling places, O Israel" refers to the synagogues where Jews gather to pray and connect with Hashem.

The One Blessing That Never Disappeared

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 105a) teaches a remarkable idea. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana explains that all of Bilam's blessings eventually reverted to curses, except for one: the blessing of synagogues and study halls.

The Gemara bases this on the verse, "Hashem your God transformed for you the curse into a blessing, because Hashem your God loved you" (Devarim 23:6).

Why does the verse refer to "the curse" in the singular rather than "the curses" in the plural?

The commentators explain that although many of Bilam's intended curses were temporarily transformed into blessings, over the course of history they eventually reverted because of the sins of the Jewish people. Only one blessing remained intact forever: the blessing that the Jewish people would merit synagogues and study halls.

This blessing has endured throughout every generation.

Why Did This Blessing Endure?

The Zera Shimshon asks an obvious question: Why was this blessing different from all the others? Why did it remain untouched, while the others eventually faded away?

He explains that the answer lies much earlier in the Torah, in the blessing that Yitzchak Avinu gave to Yaakov.

"The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau" (Bereishit 27:22).

The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 65:2) explains these words in a powerful way:

"Go and make the rounds of their synagogues and study halls. If you find little children chirping with their voices there, you cannot prevail against them, for their father already promised them and said, 'The voice is the voice of Jacob.' When the voice of Jacob is heard in the synagogues, the hands are not the hands of Esau. But if not, then the hands are the hands of Esau, and you can prevail against them."

According to the Midrash, the spiritual strength and protection of the Jewish people are directly connected to the sound of Torah learning and prayer that rises from synagogues and study halls.

The Secret of Jewish Survival

The Zera Shimshon explains that because this protection is rooted in the ancient promise of Yitzchak Avinu, it cannot be undone.

Bilam sought to weaken the Jewish people by attacking the very source of their strength. He attempted to curse their synagogues and study halls, the places where the "voice of Jacob" is heard.

But when Hashem transformed that curse into a blessing, the blessing became attached to Yitzchak's eternal promise. As a result, it could never be revoked.

Unlike the other blessings, which were dependent on circumstances and could be affected by Israel's spiritual state, this blessing was connected to the very foundation of Jewish existence.

"Your Voice Is Sweet"

The Zera Shimshon finds this idea hinted to in the verse itself:

"Hashem your God transformed for you the curse into a blessing, because Hashem your God loved you."

What is the special love referred to in the verse?

He points to the words of Shir HaShirim (2:14): "Let Me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet."

Hashem's love for the voice of Torah and prayer never ceases. The sound of Jewish children learning Torah, the prayers offered in synagogues, and the Torah studied in batei midrash are precious before Him.

That is why the blessing of synagogues and study halls remains eternal. It is rooted in Hashem's everlasting love for the voice of His people and in the promise that as long as the voice of Jacob continues to be heard, the Jewish people will endure.