Ma tovu (parashah Balak)

 Balak takes Balaam to another place, hoping that Balaam can curse the Jews from there. For a third time they build altars and bring offerings, and for a third time, only blessings issue from Balaam's mouth: "How goodly are your tents, O Yaacov, your dwelling places, O Israel! ... G‑d, who has brought them out of Egypt with the strength of His loftiness He shall consume the nations which are his adversaries ... Those who bless them shall be blessed, and those who curse them shall be cursed." At this point, Balak despairs of accomplishing his goal, and sends Balaam on his way.

Felt abstract tents of Yaacov - Yisrael encampment

ispiration for the felt modules from The Purl Bee

 

parashah Balak

Balaam leaves together with the Moabite dignitaries. G‑d sends an angel with a drawn sword to block Balaam's path. While Balaam couldn't see the angel, the she-donkey he was riding did, and refused to move onwards, causing Balaam to strike her. The donkey miraculously speaks, admonishing Balaam for striking her. Eventually, G‑d "opens Balaam's eyes," and he sees the angel.

Balaam Donkey paper jointed puppet

download the donkey here

parashah Balak 2

Yaacov tents tissue collage.

Ma tovu ohalekha Yaakov, mishk'notekha Yisrael.  

How good are your tents, Yaakov, your dwellings, Israel.

parashah Balak

 Bilaam's donkey

Bilaam's donkey paper craft

parashah Balak

A frightened king and a greedy prophet, a sword-wielding malach and a talking donkey.
A no sewed felt and foam donkey puppet to make Bilam donkey.
You need brown felt, brow and red foam paper, glue and a brow marker .

In the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and departed with the dignitaries, but G.d was incensed at his going and placed an angel in Balaam’s way. (Bamidbar 22:21–22.) When the donkey saw the angel standing in the way holding his drawn sword, the donkey swerved from the road into the fields, and Balaam beat the ass to turn her back onto the road. The angel then stationed himself in a lane with a fence on either side.  Seeing the angel, the donkey pressed herself and Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he beat her again.  The angel then stationed himself on a narrow spot that allowed no room to swerve right or left, and the donkey lay down under Balaam, and Balaam became furious and beat the ass with his stick.  Then G.d allowed the donkey to speak, and she complained to Balaam.