PARSHAT KORACH (Numbers 16-18)
“Short Thoughts” Excerpt from the weekly JLE e-news
Dear Friend,
This week's Torah portion is "Korach" (Numbers
15-18). It contains 9 commandments- 5 positive mitzvot ("do's") and 4
negative mitzvot ("do nots").
Our Torah portion describes a calamitous event
that occurred during our ancestors’ peregrinations in the desert. Korach, a
cousin of Moses, a man of means, wit, and influence, fomented an outright
rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron.
He gathered influential followers from the Tribe
of Reuben and confronted Moses. Our Sages explain the reason that Korach’s
followers were primarily from the Tribe of Reuben. They were Korach’s neighbors
(see Numbers
Korach’s challenge was veiled in concern for the
dignity of his fellow Jews. “The entire congregation is holy and G-d is among
them, why do you elevate yourselves over the congregation of G-d!” he and his
cohorts exclaimed righteously.
Moses was shocked by this brazen attack, which
ultimately was a challenge to G-d’s authority. He invited Korach and his
followers to a “holy showdown”. They and Aaron would offer incense, and G-d
would indicate His chosen one.
Moses reminded Korach that he and the other
Levites were already chosen for a special role in the Divine service. Moses saw
right through Korach’s spurious claim of concern that the “people” were all
equally holy. (Isn’t it interesting that the most tyrannical regimes are
installed by those “concerned for the welfare of the people”? c. f. the
PEOPLE’S Republic of
Korach’s followers were so intoxicated with his
venom that they responded to a summons by Moses, “Is it not enough that you
brought us up from a land flowing with milk and honey (
Moses and Aaron beseeched G-d not to destroy the
entire congregation. The people were warned to remove themselves from Korach,
his supporters and their property. A dramatic scene unfolded before the entire
assembly. The earth opened and Korach and his cronies were engorged into its
depths. Those who were offering incense were incinerated.
Incredibly, the people had been so mesmerized by
Korach that after these dramatic events, they accused Moses and Aaron of having
“killed the people of G-d”! Again, it was only the prayer of Moses and Aaron
that saved the people from annihilation. As a true leader of the people, Moses’
primary concern was for the welfare of his flock, recalcitrant as they may be.
G-d told Moses to take a rod, a symbol of
pastoral leadership, from the head of each tribe (Levi represented by Aaron)
and inscribe it with the name of each leader. The rods were placed in the
Tabernacle. Miraculously, Aaron’s rod blossomed and brought forth ripened
almonds. Thus a piece of wood detached from its life-giving source displayed
signs of life, symbolizing the infusion of Divine support into Aaron’s role.
The people finally recognized that Aaron was chosen by G-d for his special
position.
Our portion concludes with a recapitulation of
Aaron’s duties and the gifts that were owed to the kohanim (priests) and
Levites since they did not have a portion in the land and were dedicated to
Divine service. The people received a conclusive affirmation of the role of
those involved in the
A society in which all recognize that each has a
role and can make a unique contribution, is a society that will succeed and
allow each to fulfill his potential.
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There is so much more to learn from this week's
Torah portion, yet time is so limited!
Please come to the Explanatory Shabbat Service
Saturday morning at
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The HAFTARA (excerpt from the prophets) that is
read with the portion of Korach comes from the Book of Samuel I (
The Haftara reflects our Torah portion, as it
deals with the concept of Jewish leadership.
The people approached Samuel and requested that
he appoint a king to rule them “like all the nations.” (Samuel I 8:5) Samuel
was disturbed by this request, especially the desire to be like other nations.
G-d told him to accede to their demand but to admonish them that such a king
would impose heavy burdens upon the people.
As the leadership was transferred to the new
King Saul, Samuel emphasized that during his tenure as the leader of
These words echo words uttered by Moses’
centuries earlier when confronted with the challenge to his leadership by
Korach and his band, “I have not taken even a single donkey of theirs, nor have
I wronged even one of them.” (Numbers
Samuel reminded the people of G-d’s involvement
in their history. He recalled the miracles performed on their behalf and the
great leaders sent to them by G-d to extricate them from their moral and
political morass. Samuel emphasized that the king does not replace G-d as the
ultimate ruler of the Jewish nation. The king must not view himself as an
independent ruler, but rather as another of G-d’s subjects.
There is great irony in that Samuel, a
descendant of Korach, recalled for the people the great leadership of Moses and
Aaron. In fact, our oral tradition (based on Psalms 99:6) explains that in his
generation, Samuel was as a great a leader as Moses and Aaron combined.
The only leader who is ultimately worthy of
leading the Jewish people is one who humbly recognizes that he himself posses
no power and deserves no personal benefit from his position. He is a noble
servant of G-d, His Torah and His People.