This week’s Parshas Chukas–Balak moves from deep emunah to clear reminders about the power of words and perspective.
In Chukas, we begin with Parah Adumah—a chok that reminds us that not everything in Torah is meant to be fully understood. Some parts are about trusting Hashem even when it goes beyond logic. We also see the passing of Miriam and the loss of the well, followed by the incident of Mei Merivah, highlighting how precise and weighty Hashem’s expectations are for leaders, especially in moments of pressure.
We then transition into travel, challenges with other nations, and clear reminders that Klal Yisrael’s journey is guided by Hashem even when routes change unexpectedly.
In Balak, the focus shifts to Bilam and the danger of distorted speech and intention. What begins as curses becomes blessings, showing that no matter how others try to frame reality against Klal Yisrael, Hashem’s will overrides it completely. Bilam’s eyes are opened to see what he could not initially recognize—that Klal Yisrael is rooted in holiness and protected by Hashem.
Across both parshios, a unifying message emerges: Trust in Hashem beyond what we understand, guard the power of speech, and remember that clarity comes when ego and fear are removed from the picture.
May we be zocheh to strengthen emunah, use our words for bracha, and merit yeshuos, refuos, and protection for all of Klal Yisrael.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Maxim Yehudah ben Yafah
Aharon ben Shamsi
Michael ben Chayah Sarah Beheta
Shmuel ben Itta Etel
Mordechai ben Shoshana
Zaidah Eliezer Zev ben Shifrah
Yehoshua ben Devorah
HaRav Pinchas ben Alta Sima
Yisrael Meir ben Hadassah
Yossi ben Ratzon
Yair ben Alfred
Uriel ben Amir
Tamir ben Moshe
Shachar ben Aharon
Rab ben Yitzchak
Ronen ben Tomer
Yisrael ben Yocheved
Yoel Sar Shalom ben Nelly
Avraham Mordechai ben Yael
Yitzchak ben Dinah
Eliezer ben Chanah Malkah
Meir Aryeh ben Devorah
Moshe ben Chanah
Yaakov Dov ben Pninah
Yaakov ben Ethel
Moshe Yonatan ben Tziporah
Yehudah Leib ben Mania
Yochai ben Ruchamah
Yechezkel ben Miriam Yehudis
Avinoam Yosef Nissim ben Shoshanah Roza
Refael ben Dukhtar
Netanel ben Rachel Leah
Alter Yaakov ben Esther Brachah
Ilan ben Miriam
Sh'maryahu ben Raizel Shoshana Miriam
Anatoliy ben Raisa
Chayal ben Malka
Shalom ben Tila
Yisrael Yaakov ben Tila
Shalom ben Tila
Tinok ben Batsheva
Yonatan Mikhael ben Giora Aharon
Heleni Orna bas Chen Chanah
Iris Rachel bas Miriam Chayah
Chanah Brachah bas Svetlana Tziporah Chayah
Sarah bas Shoshanah
Maya Mazal bas Zivah
Tamarah bas Ksiyah
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Chayah Shulamis Brachah bas Sarah Leah
Leah bas Ita
Devorah bas Miriam Zisel
Ruchamah Sarah Fraida bas Hadassah
Sharonah Mindy bas Rivkah Rachel
Chayah bas Shterna Sarah
Sharonah Mindy bas Rivkah Rachel
Miriam bas Freida Etya
Rivkah bas Yaffah
Tila bas Fruma
Chavah Leah bas Esther
Shoshana bas Leah Fruma
For the Protection of our Chayalim (Please recite Psalms 25, 26, 46, 83, 142.)
Menachem Zion ben Ariel
Hillel Zev ben Ariel
Shmuel Pesach ben Chinah
Yehudah ben Elisheva
Dov Ber ben Rachel Chayah
Hillel Yisrael ben Tzilah
Zechariah Yisrael ben Elisheva Feiga
Yitzchak Yehudah ben Elta Draizel
Zechariah Menachem Chaim ben Elta Draizel
Yair Menashe Shmuel ben Shoshanah
Shmuel Tzvi ben Liba
Daniel Abba Tzvi ben Chayah Tz’rina
Yechiel Aharon ben Sarah Miriam
Aryeh Simchah ben Chayah Michal
Amitai ben Yitzchak Venvar
Yisrael Yehudah ben Elisheva Rachel
Shmuel Yosef ben Adinah
Neta (Nechamah) bas Avital Emunah
Naomi Emunah bas Inbal Nechamah
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
