Sivan 30 (Rosh Chodesh), 5784 / July 5-6, 2024
Parashat Korach
Numbers 16:1 - 18:3
Maftir Rosh Chodesh: Numbers 28:9-15
Haftarah Rosh Chodesh: Isaiah 66:1-24
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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah
and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.
This d’var torah is offered for a refuah
shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in
fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in
the crossfire.
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at
12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. NO Lunch and Learn on June 24. On July
8, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 212 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition)
Volume 1:
'... הנוהו קפולאי'
"There were gravediggers ..."
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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the
source.
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HOLIER THAN THOU?
'(Korach and his followers) assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and said
to them, "There is too much for you; for the entire congregation, every
one of them, is holy, and the Lord is among them; then why do you lord it over
the assembly of the Lord?"' Numbers 16:3
Rashi, citing Midrash Tanchuma: Much more than necessary have you taken high
offices for yourselves. All of them heard the commandments at Sinai from
the mouth of the Mighty One. If you yourself have taken the kingship, you
should not have selected for your brother the priesthood; not you alone heard
at Sinai, "I am the Lord your God"; the entire congregation heard!
Korach's argument, especially as elucidated by the Midrash, appears compelling. What makes Moses and Aaron so special? The problem, of course,
is that Korach is not arguing that all of the people should have the rights and
duties of the priests - he is not advocating equality. Rather, Korach was
trying to usurp power solely for himself, and using this rhetorical technique
to incite the Israelites to join in his rebellion.
The Punishment of Korah (detail from the fresco "Punishment of the Rebels" by Sandro
Botticelli (1480–1482) in the Sistine
Chapel)
Rashi, again citing Tanchuma, says: Korach spent all
night haranguing the Israelites, enticing them: "Do you think that I care
for myself alone? I care only for all of you! These people come and
take all the high offices, for himself the kingship, and for his brother the
priesthood!" - until all of them had been enticed.
We hear this kind of stuff from politicians, snake oil salesmen and others all
the time, and it works. We must be saps! Do we think that we are all going
to have power? In this particular case, didn't God say to all of the
Israelites, "You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy people"? Exodus
19:6 So, Korach is partly correct - we are all holy. But we already
have the power that we really need.
Unlike the priests, who have only ritual power, we the
people, each and every one of us, have actual power, through spreading God's
word to the world, by living out a visible Judaism. We do this by caring
for the stranger and the needy, preserving the environment, seeking peace, and
observing God's commandments in a meaningful way. It is the holiness of
our lives that positively affects the lives of others, and that gives us the
real power in the world.
Shabbat Shalom! Chodesh Tov!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Rabbi Emeritus, TBH
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
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