I have always found this week's parsha very intriguing, as it is one of the only places in the Torah where we see politics at play in “real time.” The parsha starts out by telling us that Balak, the king of Moav went to take council from the ziknai midyan regarding their fear that Klal Yisroel would destroy them as they did Sichon. Rashi immediately points out that Balak was actually from Midyan and that historically Moav and Midyan were avowed enemies, but because of their fear of the Jewish nation the two nations made peace. Moav appointed a king from Midyan and seeked their council about how to eradicate the Jewish Nation. This kind of political move, two countries making peace for the purpose of a common interest, is something that we have seen many times throughout history - especially when that interest was the annihilation of the Jewish People. Throughout the rest of the parsha as well we see how Bil’am played his politics, his greed and crookedness, and his unwillingness to “Face the facts” when his donkey miraculously spoke to him intelligently. All the attributes that define many politicians. What though, is the Torah trying to teach us by showing us the politics at play thousands of years ago? If it is to teach us the crookedness of politics, we don’t have to look too far to understand that. If it is to teach us that new alliances are made in the name of common interest, that too, we have seen throughout history.
Two weeks ago, Donald Trump met with Kim Jong Un In North Korea, on the heels of the G-7 Summit, where he, among other things, leveled a tariff against Canada. After the meeting with Kim, the question that every reporter had was “How do you explain pushing away our allies and bringing close a rogue nation that has always been considered an enemy of the U.S.?” He only answered half the question by downplaying the tensions with Canada and claimed that we have great relationships with all our allies. As for engaging with North Korea, a historic enemy of the U.S., he didn't offer a solid explanation, although I don't think one is needed. It's pretty obvious, in my opinion, by offering Kim security and lifting sanctions, the dependency he will have on the United States gives us leverage against China and Russia who are presently North Korea's closest allies. But it goes against the “Rules" of politics in which allies remain allies and enemies remain enemies. Politics though, have no rules. Age old policies can be disregarded on a dime and new ones put in their place. Historic alliances can be broken and assumed foes can make peace. The power of politics can change anything and alter the course of history.
This is the reason that Rashi, quoting the Medrash, doesn't only tell us the fact that two enemy countries made peace, rather these were two countries that “Me’olam hayu son’im,” “Always were enemies,” yet for political reasons they were able to achieve peace.
The biggest changes in history however, have come about when politics fail. Revolutions, movements, and wars have had the strongest impact. As Jews, we have seen many a nation and empire crumble and disappear from history. Strong politicians lose their influence and are many times investigated and prosecuted. The immense power of politics is really nothing more than the manifestation of the Master Plan being orchestrated by Hashem himself, and all the players are nothing more than that - puppets in the hands of Hashem as He plays out the course of history. As Bil’am, the master politician is about to carry out his scheme to curse the Jewish People, he fails. He remains powerless as G-d puts words of blessing in his mouth. Balak, frustrated and upset demands that if he can't curse the Jews, at least he shouldn't bless them! But Bil’am informs Balak that the will of Hashem is unstoppable, and even politics can not override His plan.
It always bothered me why after Bil’am is unsuccessful in cursing Am Yisroel he goes on to prophesize the ultimate fate of every nation. Perhaps the reason is that Hashem was showing at that time that throughout all the subsequent generations a lot will occur but every nation will meet its fate. All the politics that will play into the story of each generation will not be able to change that ultimate destiny. Rather, they will only be the characters in G-ds play to orchestrate those events. This is the lesson from the politics that were played thousands of years ago and today nothing much has changed.
