Judaism: Spirituality in the Parsha - Balak
Rabbi Dr. Yakov Nagen
The writer, a musmach of YU and Ph.d. from the Heb. Univ. of Jerusalem, is head of the Otniel hesder yeshiva kollel..His books (Hebrew) include “Nishmat HaMishna”, “Water, Creation and Divinity: Sukkot in the Philosophy of Halacha” and “Awaking to a New Day: Stories and Insights from Life”.'A Nation that Dwells Alone?'
Balaam prophesies relating to the people of Israel:
"The nation shall dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations" (Bamidbar 23:9)
Many see these words of Balaam as the formative statement of the relationship between Israel and the nations of the world.
The non-ending anti-Semitism in the world and Israel's international isolation would seem to prove that this indeed is our destiny - to stand apart from other nations.
On the other hand, one could argue the opposite, that the Jewish people are the people most involved and engaged with humanity.
Judaism has had tremendous impact on the world.
Jews have always been at the forefront on development of humanity as testified the number of Jewish Nobel prize winners and by the prominence of Jews in so many political and cultural movements.
How can this paradox be resolved?