Parashat Korach
Tammuz 5, 5783 / June 23-24,2023
Torah: Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 11:14 - 12:22
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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
I offer this d’var torah as a lesson (especially) to myself, as well as to everyone else, to be more issue-oriented, and less personal-oriented.
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We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov.
On June 27, we'll be at BT Shabbat 88b, page 168 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - "...אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמני" - "R. Samuel b. Nachmeini said:…”
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SHOW SOME RESTRAINT!
"And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all Korach's people, and all their possessions." Numbers 16:32
Destruction of Korah Dathan and Abiram (Holman Bible, 1890)
In the Talmud (Chullin 89a), Rabbi Ila'a teaches, "The world exists only on account of one who restrains (boleim) himself at a time of provocation, as it says in Job, '(God) suspends the earth upon restraint (b'limah).'" Rashi says that b'limah (literally, "nothingness") and boleim are related words. One who considers himself as nothing is able to keep his mouth shut and restrain himself in the face of provocation.
In "Harei Besamim", Rabbi Aryeh Leibush Horowitz (1847-1909) says this is why Korach and his followers were punished in this way. Not only did they not restrain themselves, they used their mouths to challenge Moses and God, and in a sense, the natural order. They were provocateurs, and the earth could not abide by it.
There are ways to challenge that which we perceive to be wrong. If we publicly attack someone and stoke the passions of others against that person, if we let our desires eat at us, we risk being swallowed up. Show some restraint!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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