When a Cause Becomes Dangerous - Balak, Bilaam, and the Power of Lishmah

This morning at Breakfast & a Class we explored a fascinating and somewhat unsettling idea from Parashat Balak. Why did HaShem initially forbid Bilaam from going with Balak’s messengers, only later to permit him to travel? Drawing on an insight cited by Rabbi Yissocher Frand in the name of Rav Shimon Schwab, and a theme often emphasized by Rabbi Abittan, we examined the extraordinary power of lishmah—the force that is created when a person truly believes in a cause and dedicates himself to it wholeheartedly. Along the way we discuss the prayer of the traveling salesman that had to be countered by the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, the rise and fall of Communism, and why movements built on conviction can sometimes be more powerful—and more dangerous—than those built on money or personal gain. Bilaam teaches a surprising lesson: a man motivated by hatred and ideology may possess a potency that disappears the moment his motives become financial. The challenge for us is to harness that same power of sincerity in the service of Torah, mitzvot, and avodat HaShem. It is a timely lesson about passion, purpose, and the immense spiritual force hidden within genuine commitment.