Chukas-Balak: Layers of Intelligence and Inner Strength

the great Roshay Yeshivas of yesteryear .

But tucked away at the beginning of this safer , very unassumingly , there is one essay , his notes , from a talk that he heard from Harav Rav , yeruchim Levovitz , the great Mashiach of Yeshivas Samir , titled Maimer Koichais HaOdom , a talk about the potential and the intestinal fortitude of what one individual can accomplish in his life With the Almighty's help .

We should develop , we will be zeichetu , redefine the different levels of intelligence in society , what it means to be a human , what a person's objective should be in the morning when he wakes up , and , amir Tsashem , we should reach a crescendo of a one line summarization of this . Maimer Koichais HaOdom .

From the safer Jonas Elaym , see that there are four different levels of intelligence in the world . Khazal tell us there is something called a domain , an inanimate object , rock , food , and there's a level of intelligence above that Atsomeach , something that is alive but it can't necessarily move like an animal more like bacteria or a plant would be a good example .

And above that , there's a level called a khay , which is an animal , something that has some real instincts , can move around , and then , crowning all of the intelligence of the globe , is something called a midaber , a human being with intelligence , the ability to discern with seichel and to talk .

And the general assumption is that these are four separate categories . They do not touch each other . You cannot live in multiple categories . At least a domain cannot jump up to be a khay , an animal . And really it seems like if you are what you are , well then you are stuck at what you are .

That is , of course , until you examine that there are domain-mim , inanimate objects that grow algae , there is food that sprouts mold , there are domain-anatomic objects that seemingly have turned themselves into tzomchim , sprouters , living things . And Rabirul Kham , he poses to the group of Bahram and educates us that . Well , it's odd , don't you think ?

If a person has created a category , he's a domeim , he's a rock , that's how life is , but all of a sudden he became a Tzomeach . Well , which category is it ? Are they interconnected or are these categories separate . Further analysis will show you that some are truly hybrids . There's something called the coral reef .

I'm sure you have heard of it on your , or perhaps seen it on your vacations . That is part domeim , part Tzomeach . Studies show that there is life inside of this coral reef , part rock , part sand and ground Sea floor , part living Life , tzomeach .

What's more , the highest level of these four categories , the Spitz intelligence , the human being , is actually at the beck and call and must support himself through the lowest level , aka domeim food . The highest level of intelligence needs the domeim , the lowly rock , in order to survive .

And if that's not enough , in Parshas , rukas and Balak , this week's double parasha , we see something even more odd . That's the Asoynechal bilam . This prophet traveling to curse the Jewish people is kind of stuck A conundrum . His donkey isn't working as much as he whips , hits and abuses his donkey . The donkey will not budge . And then something miraculous happens .

The donkey opens up its mouth vaivtach Hashem es piha ason , and speaks to its master . And when one reads the verse critically , you'll notice that it seems as if all that was missing from the donkey's ability to speak was vaivtach Hashem . That Hashem didn't open its mouth .

However , it seems like even a chai , an animal might potentially have the ability to speak , as we see here . Indeed , a chai just leaped frog itself into the top level of a medabar , but truly , all that it was lacking was the vaivtach , the opening up of its mouth .

But the koach , the potential and the ability for animals to speak like humans , is very well there , it seems . So what are these four levels of intelligence ? Is there any difference between a domechomeach , chai and medabar ? What we are forced to say , says Rabbi Rukham , to say , says Rabbi Rukham , is to take the words for what they do in fax .

Say and understand that when a person has been born into a human being or created as a rock , as an animal , as any of these categories , that is where you are placed at the beginning of one's life . That is the category of which general entity you are And the normal intellect , but your kochos may indeed rise far above that .

You are not handcuffed into your level . This is where you begin And this is , you know , the gun goes off and where the race must begin . There are gitarum levels and just like well , when one is in first grade they are not in second grade , but it's not impossible for a first grader to leap , frog the second grade , skip a class , jump forward .

Well , the kochos may be there . The kochos may allow one The potential , may give one the right ability to become a higher level , but these are just the gitarum of where we begin .

And truthfully , la'usad l'Avo , when Hashem brings Mashiach , the Apostle says that us , then Yeraninu kol'atze yohar , the inanimate objects , will sing Shira to Hashem , just like the human beings . Everybody will be Vayivtah Hashem as pihah . So everyone will sing together Shiro v'Tishbachos of Hashem .

A big hurrah akumbayah , with the coral reef and a donkey by your side . Truly a remarkable spectacle . There is , however , still one difference between humans and the other levels of intelligence , and that is that humans do have b'chira .

We have choice , we have the ability to choose , and while it would take a miracle to make a donkey talk , it would take a Vayivtah Hashem as piah . So human beings can level up and do the miraculous without any special miracle occurring .

There isn't a better proof to this than Bill Ome also , who was walking with this donkey And eventually , when he saw what the donkey saw was , which was an angel standing there impeding his way , and the verse says that Hashem opened his eyes to this angel . And Mori Nivuhim . The Ramam tells us that this was not just a vision , but it was a prophecy .

There was Nivuhah happening here and the laushen of the verse is Vayigal Hashem as Eni Billah . It sounds also like , indeed , the koyach , the potential for this human to have Nivuhah , was always there . Humans can always become prophets . Ramam tells us this . The psukim attest to this . It just took a Vayigal Hashem . God just needed to open his eyes .

But the koyach , the potential always rooted inside of the human spirit . And all the way back , if you remember , when Avromo Vino was traveling towards the Aketas , yitzchok Har HaMoyriah , he turned to his fellows who were standing with him , traveling with the two other lads . He says you see the fire up on Har HaMoyriah ?

and those that responded yes , they had that vision , that prophecy , that Nivuhah . Avromo Vino invited them to come along on the journey towards the mountain . But the individual who could not see the fire , the response was Shavu'ulaham poyim ha'chamur , stay here . You can't see the prophecy .

If you are not on this level and in this case you just weren't granted this gift well then , stay with the donkey , as you are more comparable on this level to a lower level of intelligence . It's Mivuh Shemish'e'enay Raya Esa'anan , someone who didn't see that cloud , the fire on the mountain ha'rayu be'gadir khamur .

They were not on this level , they had not leveled up . Now let's really get down to business , what this v'art means to us , what this insight can tell us and help us with . And it all begins with a rather shocking statement from the Heligah Rishon , the Saffornu , on the Pasek a Vayivtach Hashem Espi Ha'ason , that Hashem opened up the mouth of the donkey .

The Saffornu says what doesn't mean that God was . Vayivtach Hashem Espi Ha'ason . Nosan bo koach l'Daber , god gave the strength to speak . K'in'in' as the same situation and this is comparable to Hashem saffos , ay tivtach v'yagit t'hilo s'acha .

So when D'avana Melach said please , Hashem , open my mouth so I may sing your praises and recognize you all the more , it makes no sense , A heckish , a comparison between the donkey talking and some of the greatest words uttered by one of the holiest singers , authors and prophets to ever live

. The donkey talking is Begeder Hashem sef ozaitiv tach eich yitachin . How is this possible ? What are we to make of this connection made by the Safferno ? The answer , the truth . Again , it is staring us dead in the face Adavna Melech .

He said these words every time that he wanted and sought to see more levels of Hashem , more Hakkara , more recognition , more acknowledgement of the Shchina , more of a connection to the Almighty and taking a leap forward a step closer to Hashem .

And indeed one step closer to Hashem is an entirely new creation , a barrier chadasha , like a chai becoming a medabar , like a donkey talking like a human . The same leveling up This Yisait is makif kol chayey ha'adam , our entire lives , our job to level up , to recognize more of Hashem in our lives , to take a step forward in our Adavning and our learning .

And that is truly like leveling up from the level of a medabar to something much higher . There are Dargah's lane-sof levels that never end . Our goal is to climb Jacob's ladder , to be Tosefes , melealalmele , dargah , aldarga , rung upon , rung , climbing ever higher .

Truly , a scary insight and a motivating insight , because we don't really know how much we are capable of , how much if we pushed ourselves harder and harder , if we thought harder and worked quicker , methodically , what we really can achieve over time . It's not a miracle when one becomes a prophet . It really can happen with enough hard work .

Ram Bam tells us that a person , any Jewish person , has bahira to be as lowly , as sinful as Yoravim than Nevat . You can block people's paths to the Harabias , wanting them to come to your own Avaita , zara , idolatry filled temple , so they'll praise you .

And when Hashem says , you will walk with me amongst the other towering Torah giants , someone like Yoravim and Avot responded well , who will be in the lead ? who will be in front ? One has , god forbid , potential to fall that low .

But on the other side we have bahira to raise ourselves up to the heavens and engage in disputation with the angels and to outsmart them , out with them and to bring the Torah down to the Jewish people and to lead the nation . Like Moshe Rabbeinu . We have bahira to bring ourselves to levels of the greatest prophet to ever live .

Moshe Rabbeinu , kochos Hanefesh , listen to what potential is , listen to what the inside , the koach , is inside of every Jewish person , every new hakara in life , a recognition inside of one's character , a recognition more of Hashem's shechina , a recognition of taking the next step forward .

You are now a new creation , a new leveling up , and while this is hopefully inspiring and it should be fun for us to explore the depths of the unknown Kochos Hanefesh we all have , what's more is that we see that rocks can turn into living creatures If a person feels spiritually dead , if his brain simply well , he's not a lambdin , let's just say He's not

really good at the paying attention in davening and the learning with clarity . He doesn't have the focus capacity . Still , let's say in any other way , brick or stone heads have the ability to start blossoming beautiful fruits , to elevate themselves wrong upon wrong , into a chai , up to a madaber , into a malach , eventually create nivua .

A prophet like Moshe Rabbeinu . Avonim can be Moetsim Paris . It's lahafly . it's no role of hisponane . It's incredible to think about . I apologize to my father for this muscle . I do abide by the speed limits . However , there is some leeway . The cops necessarily don't always pull over for five over . So what is the speed limit ?

It is a real law , but it is a very strong suggestion . For if you don't want to get hurt , do not go fast , do not go above this limit . Let's keep everybody safe . These are suggestions in life .

If you are born as someone who can only go 20 miles an hour , you can buck that speed limit and you can elevate yourself to prophetic , talmud-e-kachamim-esque levels . K'ohach to the poh-will , bringing our potential into reality , to turn the potential energy into kinetic energy .

If Avromavinu would have turned to you while you were traveling with him towards Har-Hama-I-Riyah and asked you , do you see the fire on Har-Hama-I-Riyah ? Don't you wish that you'd be able to answer yes , we should jump in and explore the mysterious thing that is our k'oh-chosan-efesh , seemingly never ending trench at the depths of the ocean . We are so , so powerful .

Our potential is so , so great . The lesson is clear It's to take the certain rock-like parts of our Avromavinu-I-Riyah and to apply pressure and to elevate them and to really bring out the beautiful fruits . It's our Avromavinu-I-Riyah to turn our k'oh-chosan-efesh into poh-will , to turn our potential into reality .