Notes from Cantor Avima

This week we read one of the most interesting and - dare I say - humorous stories in the Torah.  It includes one of the most often sung verses in the Torah: "Ma Tovu Ohalecha Ya'akov". Here is a synopsis of the story: Balak is the King of Moab. Balak fears the Israelites will conquer his land, so he hires the prophet Bilaam to utter curses over Israel.  Balak sends messengers with payment to Bilaam.  At first Bilaam refuses, but finally accepts the mission. Bilaam departs with his trusted donkey and the Moabite dignitaries to meet up with King Balak. All of a sudden the donkey refuses to move. Unknown to Bilaam, there is an angel obstructing the path, though only the donkey sees the angel. Bilaam starts beating the donkey at which point the donkey opens up her mouth to say, "What have I done to you to deserve this, haven't I been your loyal donkey all these years?" Even more amusing than the talking donkey is that fact that Bilaam doesn't seem to blink an eye. He answers the donkey to say "You are lucky I don't have a sword in my hand"! At this point God  "uncovers Bilaam's eyes" so he can see the angel standing in the path. The angel further chastises Bilaam and allows him to proceed provided he understands he must only utter the words God provides. 

Bilaam builds altars and sacrifices bulls and rams. When the time comes to utter the curse over Israel, Bilaam instead delivers a blessing. Balak is furious, but Bilaam insists he can only deliver the words given to him by God. So, they try another location from where Bilaam will only see part of the Israelite camp. Again, altars are built, bulls and rams are sacrificed and again Bilaam attempts to deliver a curse only to have words of praise and blessing come forth. Balak is again infuriated. They go to yet a third site, the peak of Peor. Again seven altars are built, and bulls and rams are sacrificed. Bilaam looks out and sees Israel encamped in tents organized by tribe and, lo and behold, he utters the famous words: "Ma tovu oh-ha-leh-cha Ya'akov, mishk'no-teh-cha Yisrael", "How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!" 

Anyone who has ever been in Jewish youth groups, Religious School or Jewish summer camps has grown up singing these words: Something like this: Ma Tovu

It is found in our prayer books as a prayer to recite upon entering a sanctuary. How cool is it that we begin our prayers with words uttered by a non Jew! 

There are SO MANY settings of these words to music... too many to reference in one blog article, but I will offer a few. 

Let's start with the 19th century choral setting by Louis Lewandowski: Ma Tovu - Lewandowski

And from there, let's jump to a very contemporary chorale setting written in 2019 by Josh Ehrllich. This setting uses the actual text from Numbers 24:5-6  rather than the text of the prayer recited when we enter a sanctuary:  Ma Tovu Josh Ehrlich

Here is something really fun by Joe Buchanan, a Jewish Country Music artist who converted to Judaism. Ma Tovu - Joe Buchanan

And, finally another beautiful setting by Danny Maseng, on its way to being a "classic". Ma Tovu - Danny Maseng