Jun 16/07 — Parashat Korach

Commentary by Chazzan Aníbal Mass

There is an inspiring story about the great scholar, Rabbi Yochanan, and his study partner Resh Lakish. Both studied together for many years until Resh Lakish got sick and died. Rabbi Yochanan was completely broken-hearted from the loss. The students tried to comfort Rabbi Yochanan saying, “Please don’t worry. We will find you a new study partner, the best in the city.” Some weeks later, Rabbi Yochanan was walking down the street, completely depressed. The students asked him, “Rabbi, what is the problem now? We sent a brilliant scholar to study with you. Why are you so sad?” Rabbi Yochanan replied, “This man is really an erudite. In fact, he is so brilliant that he always brings me twenty-four ways to prove that I’m right in my arguments. But when I studied with Resh Lakish, he brought me twenty-four ways to demonstrate that I was wrong. And that is what I miss! The goal of study is not to have somebody that agrees with me all the time. I want someone to criticize me, to question me, to prove that I am wrong—because that is the real study of Torah!”

This week we read from Parashat Korach. But first, a little flashback: The negative reports of ten of the twelve spies related in the last week’s Parashah resulted in the people wanting to re-evaluate whether or not to continue under the leadership of Moshe and Aaron. Now back to this week: Korach takes advantage of the dissatisfaction of the masses and is smart enough to find the right moment to create a division among the people of Israel. “Now Korach the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Aviram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown” (16:1-2). Again in this Parashah they are the leaders of Israel who rebel against the leaders designated by God. But in spite of the fact that it looks like only one organized rebellion, there are certain indications in the Torah which lead us to believe that the rebels had very different motivations.

Rarely are the names of the previous three generations of a person mentioned, but in this case we read that the grandfather of Korach was Levi (the same as Moshe and Aaron!). We are also informed that the grandfather of Dathan and Aviram was Reuben, Jacob’s first-born. According to this, it is clear that the rebels are motivated by jealousy and hunger for power, though by saying, “…you have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them …” (16:3), Korach tries to convince the Israelites that they do not need “religious leaders” anymore, since they have already achieved the “holy level”.

On the other hand, Dathan and Aviram are there to claim for themselves the benefits of primogeniture since it was taken away from their tribe and given to the tribe of Levi.

Perhaps you remember young Moshe making peace between the two Israelites fighting in Egypt until one of them rejects Moshe’s intervention reminding him that he had murdered an Egyptian the previous day (to save an Israelite). Moshe has the greatness to try to make peace among the people of Israel. That’s why he decides to call on all of the rebellious leaders to find a fair solution to each one’s claim. But once again, Moshe’s offer is rejected by the leaders and it is God Himself who punishes them.

Our sages teach in Pirkei Avot 5:17: “Any controversy which is for the sake of Heaven will endure; and that which is not for the sake of Heaven will not endure. What is a controversy that is for the sake of Heaven? The controversy between Hillel and Shammai. And which is not for the sake of Heaven? The controversy of Korach and all his faction.”

It is not forbidden to discuss and disagree. Actually, debate is encouraged in Judaism, but only as long as we don’t lose sight of the fact that we are doing it for a good cause.

Shabbat Shalom.