Critical Moments

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

In every person’s life there are critical moments which decide the future, often for generations. One such moment occurred to Bilam who was hired to curse the Jews. As Bilam passed through a narrow passageway, an angel of mercy is sent to try to stop him from destroying himself. At that moment he had a choice. He could turn back, or he could continue on his mission to try to curse the Jews. Bilam chose wrongly; within a parsha he will be dead.

Another person who was at a critical moment was Bolok, the king of Moav, who hired Bilam to curse the Jews. When Bilam showed up, he told Bolok three strategies. First he told Bolok that he must bring offerings to the Jewish G-d. Then he said they will try cursing the Jews.  Later he advised Bolok to try to get the Jews to sin.

The second two strategies landed Bolok in dismal failure. Instead of a curse, Bilam ended up declaring, “How goodly are your tents Yakov…” In an effort to get the Jews to sin, both Bolok and his daughter will end up dead.

Interestingly, however, the first strategy, which must have required much effort from Bolok, ended up giving him a place in eternity. When Bilam told him that to succeed he would have to bring offerings to the Jewish G-d, Bolok confronted a critical moment in his life. He certainly wasn’t a worshipper of the Jewish G-d. But in order to curse the Jews he would do almost anything. And he did.

Despite the terrible ulterior motives involved, the medrash tells us that in the merit of those offerings that Bolok brought at that critical moment, he merited that Rus the matriarch of Shlomo came from him. Shlomo, the builder of the Beis Hamikdash, where offerings to Hashem for the right reasons would be brought, would descend from him in the merit of those offerings.

Every person has critical moments in life at which time life is literally at a crossroads. A good choice means eternity can be achieved. A poor choice means that much is lost forever.

It is said that the Chofetz Chaim was once approached on Purim by a student who had had a bit too much to drink. The student blocked the Chofetz Chaim’s path, and called out to him, “Promise me that I will have a portion next to you in Gan Eden.” The Chofetz Chaim saw that he could not pass the young man without responding, so he made a very profound offer. He said, “If you accept on yourself to learn two laws a day of ShemirasHalashon, and to be sincerely careful with your speech, then I guarantee you a portion next to me in Gan Eden.”

The young man apparently realized the magnitude of the offer, and he seemed to sober up a bit. He thought about the offer and began considering if he should take it. Did he really think that he would be able to guard his speech from now on?

But the Chofetz Chaim’s offer was not to be taken lightly. When the Chofetz Chaim saw that an affirmative response was not forthcoming, he declared, “Can you imagine. The young man is at the threshold of Gan Eden and refuses to enter!” The Chofetz Chaim sidestepped the youth, and walked away intensely disappointed. “Can you imagine,” he repeated, “I offered him Gan Eden… and he is not sure!”

Every one of us is offered critical moments in the course of life. May we merit to recognize them and choose wisely.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos.

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