Self Awareness Journey

Shame prevents vulnerability. Honest self awareness helps us overcome shame. Lack of vulnerability causes aggressive behavior.

Bilaam was insecure or had shame surrounding his standing with the Balak the King of Moab. When Hashem was standing him up and compelling him to face his own darkness he was unwilling to get vulnerable.

When the donkey refused to budge, Bilaam gets angry and says to the donkey, if I had a sword in hand I’d kill you. Why the aggressiveness towards a donkey? Rashi teaches us that Bilaam was ashamed of how he appeared to his compatriots.

Here he was the great Prophet who couldn’t even get his donkey to move.

Ultimately, Bilaam does Hashem’s will and to some extent is humbled.

For us it is a powerful lesson in recognizing our true worth as a creation of Hashem and allowing that to eliminate any shame we may possess. Doing so, allows for us to grow and eliminates the need for us to get aggressive, passive or otherwise.

So explore your soul, get to know yourself and recognize your true worth!

Good Shabbos!

Enjoying what
you've read?

Here's more.

January 6, 2021

A Story of Love (Your Neighbor As Yourself)

Rabbi Schusterman

Could this happen anywhere else? Chabad custom is that the Bar Mitzvah boy begins to put on Tefillin two...

September 17, 2015

Are you sorry? or Are you sorry?

Rabbi Schusterman

I am sorry that that I hurt you. I am sorry that I hurt you.   During this season we focus on our...

July 12, 2024

Of Copper Snakes and Overcoming Inner Darkness

Rabbi Schusterman

Darkness is the absence of light.  It is not real. The less light the more real the darkness becomes. ...