Avraham, Bilaam, and the Three Weeks

There’s a famous saying that the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result.

Many attribute this to Einstein, some to Mark Twain or Benjamin Franklin.  But it’s clear to me that the origin of this saying is from our parsha.

In his first attempt to curse the Jewish people, Bilaam fails miserably and angers Balak.

Knowing that insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result, they try something different. 

…לְךָ-נָּא אִתִּי אֶל-מָקוֹם אַחֵר אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶנּוּ מִשָּׁם.        

‘Come, please, with me to another place, from where you will see them …’  (23:13)

Location, location, location.  Perhaps if we move to another spot the curse will be successful. 

As we know, the results remained the same and failure persisted.  An enraged Balak watches Bilaam bless the Jewish people once again. 

Insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result.  So they relocate again.

וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק, אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לְכָה-נָּא אֶקָּחֲךָ, אֶל-מָקוֹם אַחֵר; אוּלַי יִישַׁר בְּעֵינֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, וְקַבֹּתוֹ לִי מִשָּׁם

וַיִּקַּח בָּלָק, אֶת-בִּלְעָם, רֹאשׁ הַפְּעוֹר, הַנִּשְׁקָף עַל-פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹן.     

And Balak said to Bilaam: ‘Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.’

And Balak took Bilaam to the top of Peor, that looks down upon the desert.  (23:27-28).

Of course, Failure again.

The Mishan in Avos teaches us

כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וּשְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע. עַיִן טוֹבָה, וְרוּחַ נְמוּכָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁפָלָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. עַיִן רָעָה, וְרוּחַ גְּבוֹהָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ רְחָבָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע.

Whoever possesses these three things, he is of the disciples of Abraham, our father; and [whoever possesses] three other things, he is of the disciples of Bilaam, the wicked. A good eye, a humble spirit and a moderate appetite he is of the disciples of Abraham, our father. An evil eye, a haughty spirit and a limitless appetite he is of the disciples of Bilaam, the wicked.

Rabbi Meir Bergman in his work, Shaarei Orah contrasts Bilaam’s musical chairs with the Talmud’s description of Avraham Avinu (Brachot 6b)

אמר רבי חלבו אמר רב הונא כל הקובע מקום לתפלתו אלהי אברהם בעזרו

וכשמת אומרים לו אי עניו אי חסיד מתלמידיו של אברהם אבינו

One who sets a fixed place for his prayer, the God of Abraham assists him.

When he dies, those who eulogize him will say: “Where is the humble one, where is the pious one, of the disciples of our father Abraham?”

ואברהם אבינו מנא לן דקבע מקום דכתיב וישכם אברהם בבקר אל המקום אשר עמד שם.

The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that Abraham our father set a fixed place for his prayer? The Gemara answers: As it is written: “And Abraham rose in the morning to the place where he had stood before God” (Genesis 19:27).

Where is Genesis 19:27?  Immediately after the destruction of Sedom.  Immediately after disappointment.  Avrham’s failure to save the city of Sedom through his prayers.  How does Avraham react to failure?

He does the exact same thing the next day.  Like many of us each week, he returned to the same seat and continued to pray. 

Insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result, but the difference between Bilaam and Avraham was not insanity: it was humility.  Avraham understood that it was not the seat or the view that led to his unanswered tefillot.  His self-reflected and continued to improve himself and to daven, never looking for external excuses to change his environment. 

Tonight begins the three weeks.  It is a disheartening and depressing to realize that for almost two thousand years we have been observing these customs, fasting these fast days, and praying for the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash. 

The students of Bilaam would point out that doing the same thing year after year is insane, and that it is time move on.  But as students of Avraham, we must realize we are a nation of consistency. That even our great forefathers experienced the empty feeling of picking up the siddur again after an unanswered tefillah.  It’s not insane to try again and again; it’s only insane to not look within ourselves for change.