It’s easy to find beauty in the natural world. A colorful sunset, an ancient tree or even the vast expanse of a desert can inspire awe. In contrast, human-made structures are often designed for function, not for wonder. So why is it that in this week’s Torah portion, the blessing we receive is not over a natural marvel, but over something built by human hands? Parshat Balak tells the story of a hired prophet, Balaam, summoned to curse the people of Israel.