Ethics of the Mystics: The Moment of Doom & The Thread of Kindness

(19) Whoever possesses these three things is of the disciples of Our Father Abraham; and [whoever possesses] three other things is one of the disciples of Bilaam the Wicked.

A good eye, a humble spirit and a moderate appetite makes one a disciple of Abraham, our father.

An evil eye, a haughty spirit and a limitless appetite makes one a disciple of Bilaam, the Wicked.

And what is the difference between the disciples of Our Father Abraham and the disciples of Bilaam the Wicked? The disciples of Our Father Abraham enjoy this world, and then inherit the world to come, as it is said: “I will endow those who love me with substance, I will fill their treasuries” (Proverbs 8:21).

But the disciples of Bilaam the Wicked, inherit Gehinnom and descend into the nethermost pit, as it is said: “For you, O God, will bring them down to the nethermost pit those murderous and treacherous men; they shall not live out half their days; but I trust in You” (Psalms 55:24).

In the Mishnah it says: Whoever possesses these three things is one of the disciples of Our Father Abraham, peace be upon him. And if three other things, a student of Bilaam the Wicked..

Our Sages are revealing to us that this Wicked One is the exact opposite from the Righteousness of Our Father Abraham, peace be upon him.

The idea can be understood through another teaching of the Sages, on the verse, “How can I damn when God has not damned? How doom when the Eternal has not doomed?” (Numbers 23:8) Because the wicked one is looking for that one moment of God’s Doom. For it is written, “God pronounces doom every day” (Psalms 7:12) - But how long is God’s doom? Just a moment. For it is also written, “God’s kindness is all day long.” (Psalms 52:3) And the goal of the wicked is to find that moment of Doom. But the righteous are looking to find the Time of Favor. As it is written, “And as for me, let my prayer come to You at a time of favor.” (Psalm 69:14)

And what’s more, they are also able to find the Thread of Kindness in this world. For this world is just the opposite - it runs on Judgment, but every day there is a Thread of Kindness. And the goal of righteous is to find that small point of kindness and good favor...

And this why the Tanna of our Mishnah says that through these three good traits one becomes one of the students of our father Abraham, peace be upon him, and thus is able to find the kindness in every day in this world for “those who depend on God’s kindness.” (Psalms 147:11)

And the wicked, through these wicked traits, bring forth the potential for the Doom of the Holy One above...

And this war goes on every day. And so each and every soul in Israel must strive to awaken the trait of kindness every day.

(7) He took up his theme, and said: From Aram has Balak brought me, Moab’s king from the hills of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, Come, tell Israel’s doom! (8) How can I damn whom God has not damned, How doom when the Eternal has not doomed?