Tammuz 5, 5786 / June 19-20, 2026
Parashat Korach
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 11:14 - 12:22
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We're continuing to read and discuss Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Book of Genesis
On June 22, we'll be at https://www.sefaria.org/Ramban_on_Genesis.1.10.1?lang=bi
It is recommended that you also have with you a chumash with commentaries.
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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.
Korach and His Followers Swallowed Up by the Earth
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. God's statement is better viewed as aspirational. But we already have the power that we really need to be a holy people - but as with everything else in Judaism, mere words are not enough - action is required.
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! Happy Father's Day!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - DD (HC)
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim
הרחמן הוא יברך אותנו כולנו יחד בברכת אחוה, ובברכת אהבה,ובברכת שלום
May the Merciful One bless us, all of us as one, with the blessing of brotherhood, the blessing of love, and the blessing of peace
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