In this week's parsha, Balak, king of Moab, sends Bilaam to put a curse on the Israelites. G-d prevents Bilaam from uttering curses and instead causes him to issue blessings. "Bilaam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes...[and he said] How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Israel!"
What is the significance of Bilaam's blessing?
Rashi explains what Bilaam witnesses when he comes to the Israelites' encampment. "He saw that their entrances [the entrances to their tents] were not aligned opposite one another, so that one should not peer into the tent of his friend." Bilaam sees how the Israelites value the sanctity and modesty of Jewish life, and how they protect their family's privacy and are sensitive to the privacy of others. Moreover, the strategic placement of the tents' doorways ensures that the Israelites do not look into their neighbors' tents and become envious of their neighbors' possessions. Awed by their virtues, Bilaam can only praise the Israelites.
The world we live in does not value privacy, modesty or discretion. The media compete to reveal the juiciest gossip; underwear is outerwear; and people post their most private thoughts and intimate photos. Popular culture tells us "if you've got it, flaunt it" and we spend a great deal of time eyeing what others have, and making sure that we have it, too.
How can we, as parents, resist and counter the social pressures to see all, tell all and have all? We can take our cue from the Israelites, who with the positioning of their tent flaps drew clear boundaries between public and private life. They built strong homes, and within them inculcated critical values of privacy and modesty. As modern-day parents, we, too, must create a home environment in which our children can develop into decent and caring adults. As Bilaam found, the sanctity of our home life is the key to bringing down blessings.
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