הם עם לבדד ישכן ובגוים לא יתחשב (בלק כג:ט)

It’s a nation that will dwell in solitude and be reckoned amongst the nations.

The Baal Shem Tov Hakodesh zt’’l was once leaving the mikvah when a few non-Jews passed. He feared they should touch him when he heard one telling the other, “Watch out that this Yid shouldn’t touch you, for he will make us impure!”

The Baal Shem Tov explained that this is what the pasuk alludes to: הם עם לבדד ישכן – when a Yid is enveloped in Kedusha – holiness, though he finds himself amongst other nations, he shouldn’t worry because ובגויים לא יתחשב – he isn’t worthy in their eyes and they wouldn’t want to befriend him.

Filed under Parshas Balak |