Parshat Balak - between two suns
The interesting thing about this liminal time period, bein hashmashot - twilight - is that the human eye and mind cannot perceive exactly when one day ends and the next begins. Only God was aware when that sixth day ended. Hence the fact that Shabbat always starts before sunset and ends after sunset in order to avoid a mistake.
During this uncertain, liminal, and mystical time before the first Shabbat the rabbis believed that one of the things created was the mouth of Balaam's donkey found in this week’s parashah.
When the sorcerer Balaam is on his way to see the Moabite king Balak in order to curse the Israelites his donkey stops and refuses to move. After beating the donkey and trying to get it to move, the donkey suddenly speaks, basically saying to Balaam "I've been your donkey all these years. Have I EVER acted like this before? Don't you realized there's a reason? Open your eyes! Look in front of us!" At that point Balaam saw an angel standing before them. The angel then tells Balaam that when he meets with Balak he will only be able to bless, and not curse, the Israelites. Which is what he does.
This miraculous speaking donkey was created bein hashmashot because God knew what was going to happen and had things ready for that moment, if one is to follow Maimonides. And so this creation at twilight, literally between the two suns, is what eventually allowed Balaam to bless the Israelite people.
This particular interpretation is dedicated to all those who fight injustice of every kind. It is also in celebration of the final Shabbat in Pride months, reminding us that it is our job to bring light, freedom and joy into the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
between two suns
i.
I finally spoke
after all these years
waiting to turn potential into reality
it finally happened
so many times I wanted to speak
when he would do stupid things or ignore me
but I knew I had to wait
until this moment
when my voice did not simply express
my frustration my needs
but helped him to open his eyes
so he could finally see
what was real
what was right before him
what God wanted him to do
now I will be silent again
until my last twilight
when I breathe my last
knowing that I fulfilled
my purpose
that my life had meaning
I was meant to help
bring blessing into the world
I was part of the plan
that brought him here
not to curse God’s people
but to blessed them three times
so that all would realize
blessings can be created
even when the desire is to curse
my mouth was able to speak
the truth of the moment
for being born between two suns
my eyes my mind my heart was able to
see to feel to embrace
the divine blessings
even when my so called master could not
supposedly a beast of burden
I was chosen to open the eyes
to release his burden
so he could fulfill his task
so often human beings think they know
what is in front of them
when they do not
it is the unseen
those they see as beneath them less than other than
are the ones able to see the real truth
the enlightened ones
perhaps also born between two suns
and when they open their mouths as I did
the possibility for change begins
ii.
perhaps the miracle that was really created
in that cosmic moment of unknown transformation
from day of work to day of rest
was the miraculous ability for humans to transform themselves
the donkey's power of speech was only the catalyst
like the power of speech within all
those who are oppressed mistreated
forgotten ignored othered
by those who think they know
the truth when they do not
for it was the donkey the slave the oppressed the beaten
born between the two suns
that was able to see and speak the truth
not his master
we must all look around and see every day every moment
the difference we see between light and dark
is an illusion if we are living between two suns
enlightened in the divine light
realizing that
we transform ourselves our world
from ignorance to knowledge
from indifference to compassion
from hatred to love
from shame to pride
from rejection to acceptance
from prejudice to equality
the list goes on
we have made this happen before
we can make this happen now
for if we look with our hearts
we will see know
we are in a continual state
bein hashmashot between two suns
not in a twilight leading
into a night of darkness and despair
but in a liminal moment
not between days but between epochs
bringing into a new and brighter light
with the potential to transform
ourselves our world
we can see it around us
people in the streets our communities
protesting racism
homophobia transphobia sexism misogyny
anti semitism islamophobia xenophobia
the list is endless
of things to which we must all open our eyes
to truly see them
their voices our voices were also created by the divine
in that moment between the suns shrouded in mystery
giving us the ability to see and feel the pain
so we can then
fight injustice work for peace struggle for harmony
we were all created to create change
then and now
our voices our ability to seek justice
are divine in origin
the forces we are fighting
are simply the creation
of human beings
rooted in ignorance
created in darkness
not in light
so if we work together as beings wrapped in divine light
enfolded in the wings of the divine presence
joining hands in human divine partnership
we will prevail we shall overcome
for we really have no other choice
it is why we were created
it is why we are here
it is what we must do
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