Dvar Torah Parashat Korach

Dedicated in Honor of Our Grandson, Ezra ben David

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Parashat Korach

Korach’s Ego

Parashat Korach begins with Korach, a member of the tribe of Levi, confronting Moshe and Aharon with Datan, Aviram, On ben Pelet, and 250 followers.

“And they gathered together against Moshe and Aharon and said to them, ‘You take too much for yourselves! We are all holy, and Hashem is with all of us, so why do you exalt yourselves over this congregation of Hashem?’”

Korach was one of the greatest men of that generation, but his jealousy brought down him, his entire family, and all his followers. Korach understood that Hashem had picked Moshe as the leader of Bnei Yisrael. Then he watched as Moshe appointed his brother Aharon as the kohen gadol. But Korach was greatly disturbed when Moshe appointed his younger cousin Elizafan ben Uziel to oversee the Kehat family. He became very jealous and directed his anger at Moshe as if Moshe had deliberately skipped over him. On the contrary, the Torah teaches us that Hashem told Moshe whom to appoint; it wasn’t Moshe’s personal decision.

It says in Pirkei Avot, “Rabbi Elazar Hakappar said: kin’ah—jealousy, ta’ava—lust, and kavod— [a sense of one’s own due] honor remove a man from this world (4:21).” When we see people acting incorrectly, it is often because their personal kavod has been compromised. People can engage in long-lasting vendettas against those they think have infringed on their honor. As we get older, the feeling that we deserve recognition grows more assertive, and we must be careful not to let it get the better of us.

In this passage, the Torah repeatedly refers to “Korach and his followers,” though the machloket—divisiveness was between Korach and Moshe. We learn from this that Korach and his followers did not act out of righteousness to “seek the truth.” They sought to put Moshe down merely to raise their status and receive the kavod of which they felt they’d been deprived.

The Chasam Sofer zt'l explains that every machloket contains an element of disbelief in Hashem. If one believed in Hashem, he wouldn’t stir up a machloket. Rebbe Bunim of Pshischa zt'l teaches, "Emunah means that one believes that he has everything he needs, and if he needs more, Hashem will give him more. So, there is no reason to be jealous [or to fight to get more]. If you suffer from jealousy, work to remove it from your heart with all your strength and attach yourself to the emunah in Hashem's hashgachah pratit."

The Survivors

Steve Rosenthal was one of the 37 survivors after the collapse of the Champlain Towers where he lived for twenty years. He describes how most of his neighbors were tragically killed, but he was saved from being crushed by a mere ten feet.

After this traumatic event, Steve moved to a nearby hotel. Out of the blue he gets a call from the police. “We found something of yours in the rubble,” they said. Confused, Steve asked what it was. “Your tefillin,” the police answered, and they promptly sent him a picture of his tefillin bag with his name on it.

From that moment forward, Steve Rosenthal knew that it was Hashem who had saved him that day. Every day he started coming to shul and wearing tefillin and keeping Shabbat. So too, Bnei Yisroel clearly saw Hashem after Korach and his followers were destroyed. Let us not wait until Hashem shows us He is in control.

Timing is Everything

As we discussed, Rashi comments that Korach’s motivation for fighting with Moshe was based on the appointment of Elizafan ben Uziel as the Head of the Family of Kehat. Following Divine Command, Moshe Rabbenu gave this honorable job to Elizafan, who descended from the youngest of the sons of Kehat. Of Kehat’s four sons, Amram was the oldest brother. Therefore, Korach was willing to live with the fact that both sons of Amram (Aharon and Moshe) had leadership roles. But, he felt that the next significant selection in the family should go to himself, who was the son of Yitzhar – Kehat’s second son. He was so consumed with jealousy from being passed over for the younger brother’s son that he started a revolution against Moshe.

But, Rabbi Frand notes, that the difficulty with Rashi’s scenario is that the appointment of Elizafan ben Uziel took place in Parashat Bamidbar on Rosh Chodesh Iyar! That event took place long ago. If Korach was so upset by this incident, where was he for the last five parshiot—which transpired over far longer than five weeks? When a person is overwhelmed with jealousy, he does not bide his time waiting for an opportune moment. Jealousy is a heated emotion, one that makes a person crazy.

The answer is that Korach was a pikeach—a shrewd individual. He was smart, knowing that timing is everything and when to make his move. In Parashat Bamidbar, Moshe was riding high. He was the Master of all Israel. He performed great miracles in the desert. He took care of all the people’s needs. His approval ratings were off the charts! It was certainly no time to mount a challenge to his leadership!

Ramban explains the reason why Parashat Korach follows the chapter on the spies. The people were depressed because of the aftermath of the spies’ debacle. Morale was at an all-time low. They faced 40 more years of wandering in the desert. It was at precisely this moment that Korach decided to make his move against Moshe. This was Korach’s ingenuity. If he were foolish, he would have opened his mouth to complain as soon as he was upset about something. Instant gratification is the sign of a fool, an immature baby, and a person with no intelligence. The older we get, the more we realize that we often need to put things off.

Korach nursed his grudge against Moshe until the proper time. Perhaps this was not the sign of a person with a sterling character; however, it was the sign of intelligence and self-control. We need to give Korach some credit. He had the wisdom to understand that, in life, timing is everything.

The Power of Machloket

The Rambam (in a letter) describes the severity of machloket. He writes, "Don't contaminate your souls with machloket that destroy the body, neshamah, and wealth. I saw families perish; cities destroyed, communities dispersed, chassidim lost, honored people disgraced, all because of machloket. The nevi'im foretold prophecies, and scholars spoke wisdom regarding the severity of machloket, but they haven't fully described just how bad it is. Therefore, hate machloket, run away from it, and keep away from all those who love machloket, lest you be punished with them."

The Shlah writes (in Shaar HaOsiyot) that one should be moser nefesh to avoid machloket for it is worse than avodah zarah! Even a drop of machloket is too much! One spark of machloket can create a fire that destroys everything." From where does the Shlah know that machloket is worse than avodah zarah? The Shlah quotes the following Midrash. The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni 218) states: "[Nearly] everyone in Achav’s generation worshiped idols, yet they succeeded in their battles. This is because they didn’t speak lashon hara. On the other hand, in David HaMelech’s generation, even young children knew much Torah…but they went to war and lost because there was lashon hara." The Shlah quotes this Midrash as a source that machloket and lashon hara are worse than avodah zarah.

The Shevet Mussar (37:22) points out that the manna fell every day in the desert. It even fell on the day Bnei Yisrael made the golden calf. But it didn’t fall on the day Korach made a machloket because machloket is worse than avodah zarah. This is another source that machloket is worse than avoda zara.

Rabbi Frand explains that at other instances that Moshe was dealing with a machloket, “[He] would take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, at some distance from the camp (Shemot 33:7).” He walked away from the machloket without saying a word! This is a difficult lesson to practice, but it is the most effective way of avoiding machloket. Be quiet, do not say anything, and walk away! This, along with prayer like Moshe showed us, is guaranteed to nip machloket in the bud.

What is Really Important?

Just like a drop of machloket or lashon hara can have disastrous unintended consequences, so too a small positive interaction can become something great. R’ Avrum Mordche Malach shares a story about a regular man who lived in Yerushalayim. Every morning he would pray vasikin—earliest time to pray Shacharit, eat some breakfast, go back to sleep for a little. After. he would then wake up in time to send his children off to the school bus with a hug, kiss and wish them a good day at school, and then he would drive to work.

It happened one morning this man overslept, and he was running late. His boss wanted everyone to be in early because of a meeting. He rushed to work without giving his kids their goodbye hugs and kisses.

On his way to work he gets a call from his house phone. It’s his son. “My bus is coming soon. You left, and you didn’t give me a hug.” The father explained that he had a big meeting he had to get to, and he would make sure to be there tomorrow. After some silence the boy said, “Okay,” and hung up.

Right before the bus came, the father’s car pulled up. The son was surprised. The father explained, “Listen, I couldn’t stand to hear the pain in your voice when we ended the phone call. I had to hug you.” He wished his son a good morning and a great day at school.

Years later at the son’s last sheva brachot, the boy shared how this specific incident had such an impact on his life. Later, the father stood up to speak. “You know, now that I think about it. I totally forgot that story, I’m thinking to myself, it has been about thirteen years since then. My child remembers what I did for him. What do you think are the chances that the boss remembers I came late that day to work. Zero. He does not remember. That day I was focusing on what I thought was important, being on time. Thirteen years later, I realized that is not what is important. I was focusing on the now, and not the future.

Rabbi Avi Wiesenfeld shares that many astronauts that return to earth describe their trip as life changing. From on earth mountains appear massive, countries seem enormous, people spend their lives fighting about land, status and power. From space, none of that is visible. Countries’ borders and divisions disappear. What seemed so overwhelming and powerful are tiny from a spaceship. The astronauts perspectives on what is important shifted.

When we are frustrated with someone who inconvenienced or wronged us, we are stuck on ourselves and on the now. We are feeling hurt right now, and all we can think about right then is how bad the other person is. We fail to see the bigger picture, and often we spiral by lashing out or venting to others instead of resolving it with the person directly. We must strive to focus on what is important. Our relationships and our dignity are more important than getting even, jealousy and spite. Our mental energy should be future oriented instead of stuck on one person or one wrongdoing. Ask yourself, how do you want to spend your life?



Machloket and Money

The root of the word machloket—divisiveness is chet, lamed, kuf, or chelek—portion. When people are arguing, they are separated and divided. The root of the word shalom—peace, is shin, lamed, mem, or shalem—full. When everyone is together, there is peace and unity.

The maan fell for 40 years in the desert, except for one day. On the day of Korach’s rebellion, the maan didn't fall, whereas on the day of the sin of the golden calf, which was presumably a greater sin, the maan fell because there was unity among the Jewish people. This shows us that machloket effects our parnassah—wealth.

Rav Shaul Kardi Shlita, the Rav of the Keser Torah community in Mexico, told Rabbi Biderman that ten years ago, he asked Reb Matisyahu Solomon, the mashgiach of Lakewood Yeshiva, "What is the secret of the success of the Lakewood yeshiva? There are thousands of students, the budget is millions of dollars, and yet there is an abundance. The siyata dishmaya—help from G-d is beyond natural."

Reb Solomon replied, "I have been here for twenty years. There are four roshei yeshivot—heads of the school. From time to time, we gather for a meeting, and we discuss matters that are of great importance. There are times when there are disagreements among the roshei yeshiva, but there is never a machloket." In other words, we are allowed to think differently, but we never end our meetings in dispute.

May we all learn from this parasha to keep our feeling of kavod in check so we can stay far away from machloket. Also, when we have a difference of opinion with others — whether in our families or our professions — may we try to step back, look out for each other, and help spread simcha and be the kind, caring nation we are known to be.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Amram Sananes as written by Jack Rahmey

Discussion Point:

Do we have any disagreements with others or hurt feelings that we’re holding on to?

This book is a compilation of Divre Torah from the weekly parasha classes from Rabbi Sananes’ teachings over the last 10 years along with my own experiences in those classes which has stimulated my Torah growth. I’ve included many pertinent stories and life lessons to grow from at your Shabbat table. There’s also questions and discussion points at the end of each Parasha to stimulate a Torah conversation at your Shabbat table for the whole family to participate in. Also, included is a holidays section at the end of the book to use for all of our special holidays and Yomiim Toviim.



Now available in all Jewish bookstores and Amazon! Scan the barcode on the right to purchase from Amazon.

Rabbi Sananes and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Sincerely, Rabbi Amram Sananes and Jack E. Rahmey

AmramSananes@me.com and jrahmey@rahmeyfinancial.com (917-226-6276)

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