Volume 27 Issue 19 29 Jun 2018 16 Tammuz 5778

Student Devar Torah

Liat Granot – Year 9

“Mah tovu, ohalekha ya’akov mishkenotekha yisra’el

How good are your tents, Jacob

Your dwelling places Israel”

We say these words in our morning tefillot (prayer service) but does anyone know the story behind it? Balak, this week’s parashah, is about the story of Ma Tovu.

Bil’am had been requested by the King of Moab, Balak, to curse the Children of Israel.

However, he instead blesses the people, with the words of Mah Tovu. The blessing, according to one understanding, is that Bil’am saw the openings of each tent facing away from that of its neighbour causing him to utter his blessing.

What can we learn from this? If you are constantly on display to your neighbours or even just your friends, then you begin to paint a picture of yourself that simply is not real. Once you face your metaphorical tent doors away from each other, you’re less preoccupied with others and what they think of you, you have more of a chance of getting to know and have an honest relationship with yourself. This, I feel, is ultimately more important.

So try to build your relationship with yourself more – whether that means going on a run, doing a face mask or even just sitting down and reading your favourite book. Concern yourself with how you may improve your own ‘dwelling’ not another’s.