The name of the Parshah, “Balak,” refers to Balak, king of Moab. 

Balak summons the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. On the way, Balaam is berated by his donkey, who sees, before Balaam does, the angel that G-d sends to block their way. Three times, from three different vantage points, Balaam attempts to pronounce his curses; each time, blessings issue forth instead.

The people fall prey to the charms of the daughters of Moab, and are enticed to worship the idol Peor. When a high-ranking Israelite official publicly takes a Midianite princess into a tent, Pinchas kills them both, stopping the plague raging among the people.

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‍Chabad.org

The fast of the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, known as Shivah Asar B’Tammuz, is the start of a three-week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy Temples.

The fast actually commemorates five tragic events that occurred on this date:

Moses broke the tablets when he saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf.

During the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, the Jews were forced to cease offering the daily sacrifices due to the lack of sheep.

Apostomos burned the holy Torah.

An idol was placed in the Holy Temple.

The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans, in 69 CE, after a lengthy siege. Three weeks later, the temple was destroyed. 

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Chabad.org

After Pinchas’s act of zeal, he was greatly rewarded. He was given the title of Kohen and served in the Sanctuary. This teaches us an important lesson. When we see others around us doing the wrong thing, we need to stand up for what’s right even when we are shamed for doing so. To make this easier, one should keep in mind that although others may make fun of you, Hashem is on our side and our acts of zeal bring Him extreme pride and joy. 

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During the times of Exile, G-d is with us. He is experiencing the pain and suffering along with us. Therefore, when Moshiach comes, not only will we rejoice, but G-d will rejoice as well! 

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The following is an incredibly powerful letter written to Rabbi Jacobson: 

Dear Rabbi Jacobson,

I’m a musician that lives upstate New York. I usually play secular music—secular rock music. Last Thursday I was doing a performance in a bar in Poughkeepsie. As Israel started attacking and destroying Iran’s nuclear weapons—even though nobody in this bar looked Jewish—during the performance I announced what was happening and asked that everyone should pray for peace in their own way and make a commitment to do an act of kindness to help make the world a better place. Then I played the song Shalom Aleichem and explained the meaning: that there should be peace. The next night, Friday night I had a strange dream that Rabbi Groner, the Rebbe’s secretary, called me and said, the Rebbe wanted to thank me because what I said in the bar inspired a Jewish woman in the audience to light Shabbos candles and her candle lighting in Poughkeepsie helped bring extra blessings into the world that protected people in Israel, and helped the Israeli air force succeed. When I woke up Shabbos morning I thought, even though it was a nice dream it’s probably a nonsense dream because I’m not an important enough person to get a message from the Rebbe in a dream. But today, Sunday morning, I got an email from a woman in Poughkeepsie who looked me up on social media and told me I inspired her by what I said and that she lit a Shabbos candle to honor Israel. And it’s the first time she lit one since her Bat Mitzvah mitzvah 50 years ago.

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