Kabbalah on the Bible: Balak
Examining the weekly Torah reading through the lens of contemporary commentary, showing how topical and relevant the parshah's ideas really are.
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Join the Discussion
brenda tawil
June 20, 2010
This audio is very understandable and the episode comes to life. Rabbi Kaplan's audios are some of my favorites! Reply
Bluma Mandel
Houston, Texas
July 2, 2009
Always a pleasure to listen to the Rebbe's teachings through such a gifted mediurm. May you use your gift from strength to strength. Reply
Anonymous
July 12, 2008
Very Informative Very good glass, but tends to run off on small tangents quite frequently and wanders off topic with many "we'll talk about that another time" type situations, which causes distraction from the topic at hand. Reply
Kabbalah on the Bible: Balak by Rabbi Mendel Kaplan (1) I respectfully submit Rabbi Kaplan's statement that Christians believe Satan is outside of G-d or somehow not under His sovereignty is not entirely correct. Just like there is diversity in belief within the Jewish community there is diversity in belief in the Christian community. Some Christians believe Satan is simply a servant of G-d under His dominion.
(2) Again with respect, Rabbi Kaplan is also not entirely correct in identifying all people as anti-semitic who disagree with Israel's political policies that are unjust for the Arab population. Some Jews living in and outside of Israel object to discriminating and unjust Israeli policies that make Arabs oppressed second class citizens
Certainly I am not a bible scholar yet many of the prophets repeatedly explained to various Jewish Kings and other leaders that G-d requires justice by those that hold positions of authority and power over the Jewish people. Without justice what happens to"The Light of the Nations"?
Which strand of Christianity are you referencing? I am interested in seeing the source as throughout my years in private Christian school and university I never heard of a strand that believes that Satan was still the servant of G-d. Perhaps one could argue that they believe that G-d is sovereign and still in control of all things, but the doctrine espoused was always that Satan was a fallen angel who rebelled against G-d and whose actions were those of rebellion and that until the final battle of Armageddon Satan remains a rebellious actor who is in no way the servant of G-d.