I’m not worried. Not worried at all.
I know that sounds strange. After everything that’s happened since Simchas Torah almost two years ago and everything that’s still happening — how can I say that I’m not worried?
We look around, and all we see is growing hatred against Israel and rising antisemitism. Israel is under siege not just from rockets and terrorists, but from the so-called civilized world.
The ICJ, the ICC, the UN — international institutions created to prevent the horrors of the past — are now being weaponized to attack the one country that stands for decency and freedom in the Middle East, the one that was meant to protect Jews from danger and hatred.
And antisemitism is no longer whispered in dark corners. It’s chanted in the streets. It’s scrawled on synagogue walls, screamed at Jewish students on campus, written into the resolutions of academic conferences, baked into mainstream media coverage, and blasted from the stages of music festivals. It’s literally everywhere we turn.
And the worst part is, it’s not just the haters spewing lies — it’s the enablers giving them the spotlight. Influencers like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Mehdi Hasan spout the most vile, conspiratorial rhetoric about Israel and Jews.
These three and others like them, with millions of online followers, accuse Israel of genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism – parroting the talking points of terrorist regimes and Hamas murderers. They downplay or outright deny the atrocities of October 7th, casting Israel as the villain in a conflict it never asked for.
And then there are TV hosts like Piers Morgan, who sit back and play the “neutral moderator,” while allowing antisemites, news distorters, and Hamas sympathizers to spew unchallenged venom on prime-time TV. This isn’t journalism. It’s not even a debate. It’s a coordinated assault on truth.
Sometimes it feels like the world has turned upside down. Like we’re reliving a nightmare we thought we’d already survived.
And still — I’m not worried. So let me explain why.
In Parshat Balak, we are introduced to the strange and disturbing story of Balak and Bilaam — a king and a prophet who team up to destroy the Jewish people.
Balak sees that military strength won’t work against the Israelites. Every nation that tried to confront them on the battlefield has been wiped out. So Balak decides to try something else — something more insidious. He hires a spiritual mercenary, Bilaam, to curse the Jews into oblivion.
At first, Bilaam refuses. He asks God, and God says no (Num. 22:12): “Don’t go with them, and don’t curse the nation, because they are blessed.”
Balak gets the message that Bilaam won’t come, so he ups the ante. He sends more messengers. And critically, he offers Bilaam more money and greater honor.
This time, when Bilaam asks again, God gives him permission — sort of (Num. 22:20): “If the men have come for you, then go with them, but you must only say what I tell you.”
Rashi picks up on this and asks, “What changed?” Why did God say no the first time, and yes the second? Rashi offers a fascinating answer, pointing to the phrase “for you” as the key. If they’ve come for your sake — in other words, to pay you and reward you — then go with them. If you’re going to gain from this arrangement, if this is a business deal, then fine — I have no objection.
But this raises a serious question: Why would God permit Bilaam to go only after he was offered money and honor? The first time, with no personal gain involved, God says no. The second time, with profit promised, God says yes.
It sounds almost absurd — as if God is okay with Bilaam going, as long as he’s getting paid. Is God really concerned about Bilaam’s paycheck? Is God acting like Bilaam’s agent — rejecting pro bono work but allowing a paid gig?
Here’s where Rav Shimon Schwab (1908–1995) offers a stunning insight. The first time Bilaam was asked to curse the Jews, it was for the cause. There was no personal gain. No reward. It was, in a sense, completely lishma — altruistic. Bilaam wanted to curse the Jewish people because he believed in it. He wanted them gone.
That kind of hatred is dangerous. That kind of mission — pure, uncorrupted, and driven by ideology — is the most potent force in the world. It can succeed against the most incredible odds.
But the second time? When honor and riches were on the table, it was no longer about the cause. It became about personal gain. Bilaam turned into a contractor, a consultant — a prophet for hire. And that changed everything. Because once a mission becomes transactional, its spiritual power evaporates. Once belief is replaced with benefit, the potency dissolves. It loses its traction.
Rav Schwab compared this to Communism. In the early 20th century, Communism swept across the world with incredible force. Why? Because people believed in it. Millions were willing to suffer for the cause of the revolution. They were true believers — lishma-niks. Even Jews, tragically, were among them, rejecting Torah, rejecting tradition, and marching under red flags, driven by a utopian dream.
But eventually, the truth came out. The leaders were corrupt. The system was hollow. The ideologues had been replaced by cynical, power-hungry operators. Once the lishma was gone, the movement collapsed under its own weight.
Which brings me back to where I began. Finally, I can tell you why I’m not worried.
Because the modern movement against Israel, and the rise of widespread antisemitism, is not lishma. It’s not pure. It’s not driven by people who are willing to die for a cause. On the contrary — it’s being driven by mercenaries.
Candace Owens isn’t marching for Palestinian rights because she believes in the cause — she’s playing to an audience that funds her platform.
Tucker Carlson isn’t losing sleep over Gaza — he’s serving his Qatari paymasters and chasing ratings.
Mehdi Hasan, fired from MSNBC, is now a Qatari mouthpiece, parroting propaganda for likes and relevance.
Piers Morgan? He’s not an ideologue. He’s a shock-jock. He invites antisemites on his show because it gets attention and builds his brand.
These are not true believers. They are Bilaams on the payroll. Which means their movement has no staying power. No spiritual depth. No divine force behind it.
Like Bilaam’s curses, like Communism’s dream — it will crumble.
And we — Am Yisrael — we who live with faith, who teach our children values, who build, who give, who fight not for power but for truth — we will endure. Because our identity isn’t motivated by money or power. It comes from our covenant with God. Whether we are at our highest point or our lowest ebb, we remain true to Him and to His Torah.
So no — I’m not worried.
Rabbi Dunner
