Here we are in the new parasha of Balak. Wonderful.
At the end of the first aliyah of this parasha is a very interesting, somewhat extraneous phrase, which is (Bemidbar 22:12) when commanding that Balaam not curse the congregation (kahal) of Yisrael, he may "not curse the people for blessed are they."
On a superficial reading, it doesn't seem to mean that much. Sure, you can't curse something that's blessed.
But if so, why add the phrase "for blessed are they" at all? Why not just stop at the prohibition on cursing them? There must be something here. In very rough logic, the conclusion is that once something is blessed (or at least until that blessing is taken away), then it is not "cursable."
This is actually quite a striking assertion. If G-d has blessed me, until I lose that blessing, I am...well, I don't want to say much more than the Torah does, which is that I'm not really subject to a curse.
Really, what is a blessing? I've never truly thought about until now. But one answer might be that is a, permanent (now we know) transfer of spiritual energy through a conduit to a receiver (obviously from G-d first). And that this blessing stays until...when?
And until then, what happens? No curse can come. Divine protection. Israel had just lost the cloud and yet the blessing - this word, energy, protection, remained.
So what is a blessing? Is it actually something new or does it keep the bad stuff - the yetzer hara - away? Probably a little of both. Or both at once.
What is the natural state of existence? I've heard it's totally, completely 50/50 - half good, half bad. And that is why each and every thought and action matters, to tip the balance.
A blessing seems to more permanently alter that balance. And make things impermeable, and holy - more sustainably good.
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