Tag
Ma Tovu
2 articles
beginner
Parashat Balak: Balaam's Donkey, Blessings Instead of Curses, and Ma Tovu
Parashat Balak tells how the Moabite king hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel — but a talking donkey, divine intervention, and irrepressible blessings turned the plan upside down, giving us the beloved prayer Ma Tovu.
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beginner
Ma Tovu: How Goodly Are Your Tents, O Jacob
Ma Tovu — 'How goodly are your tents, O Jacob' — is the prayer recited upon entering the synagogue each morning, drawn from the words of the non-Jewish prophet Balaam. Explore its origins, meaning, and the irony of beginning Jewish worship with a pagan's blessing.
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