Our Holy Torah introduces us to Bilaam, a non-Jewish prophet hired by Balak, king of Moav, to curse the Jewish people. While Bilaam eventually blesses the Jews, our sages see in him a person of low character with far from good intentions. They comment that:
“Whoever has three particular traits is counted among the students of Abraham, and whoever has three other traits is among the students of Bilaam. He who has a good eye, humility and contentedness is a student of Abraham, while he who has an evil eye, arrogance and greed is a student of Bilaam.” (Talmud, Pirkei Avot 5:22).
Let’s focus on defining these positive attributes in an effort to reach higher ourselves, in our personal growth.
A good eye is a person that not only sees the good in others but rejoices in their success. Let’s consider, how much are we happy in the success of others and when we hear their good news. Take a second to think of one person’s success while asking Hashem to bless them further.
Humility is the ability to take one’s mission seriously but not one’s self. What is your life mission? To the extent that we focus on our purpose, we naturally become less self-centered and more humble. Similarly, when encountering a mitzvah – whether it be giving charity, cleaning for Passover, or attending synagogue – do we view it as an obligation to be rid of, or as an opportunity to embrace?
Contentedness is the ability to appreciate life, and its particulars, as a gift. Consider your level of gratitude for the small things in life. Are we motivated by a sense of greed or are we content and motivated by a higher value?
Interestingly, Judaism says that when choosing a rabbi, character is more important than scholarship. Maimonides, in his magnum opus “Mishneh Torah,” expresses this by listing the laws of character behavior (“Hilchot Deyot”) BEFORE the laws of Torah study. You can be talented, wise and successful, but still end up like Bilaam – if you don’t work to develop good character.
So let’s take hold of the beautiful moral legacy of Abraham and use his model to elevate our own lives. Shabbat Shalom!