Parshas Balak
Ben Yehoyada.
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(Bilam wanted to curse the Yidden that) they should not have any olive groves or vineyards. (Sanhedrin 105b)
Q.) why are just these 2 commodities mentioned.
A.) These 2 fruits are used to help Yidden be in the Beis Hamedrash and the Beis Hakeneset (?? ???? ???? ????).
Olives produce oil that is used to like the Beis Hamedresh and the Beis Haknesset.
As it says in Chazal ????? ??? ???? ???, ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???????-the oil lighting in the Shuls and Torah study halls of Chizkiyahu’s kingdom helped defeat Sancheriv and his armies.
In addition olive oil is used for memory in Torah, as it says in Chazal, ‘consuming olive oil helps to recall and retain Talmudic data’.
Wine is also good for Torah
It says in Chazal ???? ??? ??? ???-drinking wine releases secrets of Torah entrenched in a person. Indeed Rabbenu Hakodesh used this with his Talmidim ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????.
Wine as a liquid conductive to Torah wisdom is emphasized by the statement of Rava ‘???? ?????? ???????’-‘wine and spices made me wise’.
In conclusion we can now see why Chazal chose olive groves and vineyards as a prime commodities in Bilam’s intended curse.