By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO –There are times in our lives that though our hearts may be pulled in different directions, we know it is better to just say “no.”
Something happened this week which reminded me of this important lesson.
On Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. our congregation hosts an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group. We offer our space as a community service. The support group is open to anyone who is dealing with a family member or friend who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
This week a well-intentioned participant left a box of Krispy Kreme donuts in the office as a thank you for the synagogue offering its space. As I walked past I glanced longingly at the fresh confections within (I think one may have been calling my name), then decided to “just say no” and walk past.
I believe in the “War Games” philosophy of dieting. “War Games” is a 1983 movie in which a teenager hacks a Defense Department computer and unknowingly instructs it to launch real nuclear weapons as part of what the computer thinks is a game.
Nothing stops the countdown until the resourceful youth teaches the computer to play tic-tac-toe. After several thousand games result in a draw, the computer realizes that the only way to win a nuclear war is not to start one.
That’s how I think about food. The best way not to gorge myself is not to begin. I just say “no” (well, at least some of the time!).
That’s what the prophet Balaam should have done when he was asked by Balak, the King of Moab, to curse Israel. Balaam at first refused the invitation, but after Balak offered him a lot of money, he wavered. Instead of sending Balak’s messengers back where they came from, Balaam instead told them, “…let me find out what else the Lord may say to me.” (Num. 22:14)
That night God came to Balaam and said, “If these men have come to invite you, you may go with them. But whatever I command you, that you shall do.” (Num. 22:20)
In the end, despite Balak’s increasing ire, Balaam did not curse but rather blessed Israel three times. Nevertheless, Jewish tradition considers Balaam a wicked enemy of Israel. Why? A short time later Balaam turned his back on God and introduced the worship of the pagan deity, Ba’al Peor, to the Israelites.
The Torah does not record why Balaam turned his back on God. We can only conjecture that he had a weak moral compass. When faced with a dilemma, he seemed incapable of just saying “no.” Once he began turning away from God, he was unable to stop.
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com