"Hashem opened the mouth of the donkey and it said to Bilaam, 'What have I done to you that you struck me these three times?'" (Bamidbar 22:28). This was an awesome miracle, which went totally against the laws of nature. This miracle was so unique that it needed to be created during the six days of creation (Pirkei Avos 5:6). Who was deserving of such a miracle and why was it performed? Bilaam HaRasha (the evil one). The Tanna in Pirkei Avos (5:19) describes Bilaam as being jealous, craving honor, and having lust for pleasures, three of the worst possible qualities of a human being. In addition to that, he defied Hashem's will by going to curse the Jewish people. He continually ignored Hashem's attempts to convince him to stop his evil ways. We might think that a person such as this is lost. There is no hope for him. Give up on him. The Sforno disagrees. "Hashem opened the mouth of the donkey." Why? In order to arouse Bilaam to do teshuva (repent). To show him that Hashem gives the power of speech. He can also remove the power of speech. All this was done in order to avoid having to destroy Bilaam. Although he was so evil, Hashem did not give up on him. On the contrary, He performed a tremendous miracle to attempt to save him.

Who is Your Teacher?

Avraham or Bilaam?

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos (5:19) writes that one who has the three character traits of "a good eye", "low spirit", and "low physical desires" is a student of Avraham Avinu. "A good eye" means that the person looks favorably on another's possessions. He is not jealous. "A low spirit" characterizes a humble person. One who has "low physical desires" is happy with his standard of living. One who has the opposite character traits of jealousy, craving for honor, and lust for pleasures is a student of Bilaam HaRasha. Rashi writes that Bilaam wanted to put an ayin hora (evil eye) on the Jewish people. His craving for honor is exhibited by the fact that he wanted to travel in grand style, with the most prestigious officers that Balak could send. His allusion to a house filled with silver and gold shows his desire for physical pleasures. The students of Avraham Avinu have a good life in this world and in the next world. The students of Bilaam suffer in the next world. Some say that they do not enjoy this world either. The Mishna is telling us the great reward that we will receive if we are like Avraham Avinu.

Instead of cursing the Jewish people, Bilaam blessed us. "He did not see any struggling in Israel" (Bamidbar 23:21). How could he say that the Jewish people do not struggle? We learned just a few weeks ago in parshas Bechukosai that we must toil in Torah (omel batorah). To learn Torah properly you must struggle. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains that although we work hard, it does not feel like a burden. When you are working at something, that you love and you know that it is worthwhile, you do not feel strained. On the contrary. It is your greatest pleasure and enjoyment to work hard. You express your creativity and feel great accomplishment. Toiling in Torah learning is not a burden. It is our privilege.