"מה טבו אהליך יעקב משכנתיך ישראל"
“How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov, your dwelling places, O Israel.”

QUESTION: Rashi (Bamidbar 24:5) comments that Bilaam uttered this in amazement when “he saw that the openings [of their tents] were not lined up one with the other.” Why did he focus on their “openings”?

ANSWER: The Midrash Rabbah (Song of Songs 5:2) says that Hashem urges the Jewish people to do teshuvah, saying: “Pitchu li petach kechudo shel machat ve’Ani potei’ach lachem petachim shetiheyu agalot nichnasot bo” — “Make a small opening like that of the head of a needle and I will open for you an opening through which caravans can enter.” In other words, the Jew merely has to begin the teshuvah process and Hashem will help him to attain the most lofty goals. Thus, the “openings” that Jews have to make and Hashem’s reciprocal “opening” are not comparable.

Therefore, in praise and envy Bilaam said, “You Jews are so lucky; your opening and Hashem’s opening are not ‘lined up’ — identical — to each other. You only have to put in a little effort and Hashem opens for you the vast gates of teshuvah. If your G‑d loves you so much, how can my cursing possibly have an effect?”

(ר' ברוך זצ"ל ממעזיבוז)