Overview
of the Torah Reading
To be read on Shabbat
Korach (in Israel, outside of Israel Shelach)
- 26 Sivan 5782 /June 25
Torah: Numbers 16:1-18:32
Haftorah: Samuel I 11:14-12:22 (Korach's illustrious
decendant)
Pirkei Avot: Chapter
4
Korach
is the 5th Reading out of 10 in Numbers and it contains 5325
letters, in 1409 words, in 95 verses
Overview:
Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32) opens with the dramatic account
of the rebellion of Korach, Datan, and Aviram and their 250 followers
against the leadership of Moses and priesthood of Aaron. Moses challenges
them to make an offering of incense. Aaron, too, would do so, and whosever
offering was accepted would clearly be G-d's choice for the priesthood.
The earth swallows Korach, Datan, and Aviram, their families and possessions,
and a fire descends from heaven consuming the other men who burned incense,
all except Aaron. The following day the Jews complain about the deaths
of so many men, whereupon G-d sends a plague, resulting in 14,700 more
deaths. Moses tells Aaron to stop the plague by offering incense and
then running into the middle of the assembled masses. Then, to again
strengthen Aaron's position as High-Priest, each tribal leader was told
to write his name on a staff. These staffs were placed in the Sanctuary.
The next day, Aaron's staff was found with almond blossoms and nuts
growing on it. It was left as a memorial next to the Holy Ark. Then
comes a description of the priestly and Levite duties in the Sanctuary,
including preventing Israelites from approaching places forbidden to
them within the Sanctuary area. G-d then tells which produce and animals
are included in the priests' and Levites' portions which Israelites
must bring them. Also the Levites are commanded regarding the portions
that they must bring to the priests.
An
Essay from
Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, Director of Ascent
(for a
free weekly email subscription, click
here)
One
of the demands of a truly spiritual Divine lifestyle is to push your
limits. If G-d gave you certain qualities, it is your job to use them
for good. We are expected to develop them to accomplish more, to the
best of each person's individual ability. We see a beautiful example
of this in a talk from the Lubavitcher Rebbe on this week's Torah portion,
Korach.
The dispute
between Korach and his group of rebels against Moshe had reached the
point of no return. Their fate was sealed. The Holy One, blessed be
He, commanded Moshe to instruct the entire nation of Israel, "Move
away from the dwelling of Korach, Datan, and Aviram." [Bamidbar/Numbers
16:23]. In a few moments, the earth would open its mouth and
swallow up Korach and all his followers.
The Torah
describes Moshe’s actions after G-d’s command, "Moshe
rose and went to Datan and Aviram, and the Elders of Israel followed
him." [ibid. 16:25]. Moshe was, more than
anything else, G-d's servant. What was the purpose of his going? He
had already tried to speak to them and convince them to repent but they
repulsed him. Now it was too late; their fate was already sealed by
G-d. On the other hand, if even under these circumstances Moshe still
wanted to persuade them to repent, why do we not find that he spoke
to them? The Torah merely states that he went to them! Why is the Torah
telling us all this?
Rashi
quotes the words, "Moshe rose," and explains, "He thought
they would raise their faces to him."
From these
words we can understand Moshe's intention.
Once the
decree was already sealed, Moshe could no longer urge Datan and Aviram
to repent. The Holy One, blessed be He, had already commanded him to
do the opposite – to distance the people from the rebels in anticipation
of their impending punishment.
However,
since we know that, "Nothing stands in the way of repentance",
[Peah. Chapter 1. Law 5], Moshe did not give up.
Moshe,
with his immense love for the Jewish people, tried at the last moment
to save Korach's group. The only action remaining was "Moshe rose"
– he elevated himself to his fullest level of grandeur and kingship,
radiating the awe of royalty. Moshe hoped "They would raise their
faces [to him]" – that when they saw him in the full glory
of his leadership, perhaps they would repent and be saved from the bitter
fate awaiting them.
This also
explains the continuation of the verse, "…and the Elders of
Israel followed him." Moshe was not commanded to take the Elders
with him [on his G-d given mission to the Jewish people to warm them
to move away from Korach, Dotan and Aviram], so why did they follow
him? And more to the point, why does the Torah tell us this?
These
words express the power that Moshe exhibited. The action of "Moshe
rose" – his supreme leadership and regal stance – had
such a profound effect that the Elders felt a deep need to follow and
escort him. In this way, Moshe hoped to influence Korach's group as
well, but as we know, they did not repent [except for Korach’s
sons - but that is another story].
From this
event we learn about the greatness of Moshe's love for the Jewish people
and his determination to use everything within his grasp to help even
those farthest away from G-d's will. Although the fate of the sinners
was already sealed and the Gate of Repentance was closed to them, to
the extent that the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded Moshe to remove
the entire congregation from them, nevertheless, the Shepherd of Israel
stood in awe, and tried every strategy to influence them and save them
from descending alive to their graves.
What is
the lesson for each of us? If Moshe strove to save truly wicked people
who rebelled against the will of G-d, how much more so in these times,
when the sinners among us do so only out of ignorance, like children
who were taken captive among the nations. Even if they think they know
better, it is all an illusion created by the environment in which they
grew up. How clear that every Jew has an obligation to do everything
in his power, by all means and stratagems, using each quality they were
given to the utmost, to save them and return them to our Father in Heaven.
[Translated
and adapted from Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Likutei Sichot: Selected
Discourses. Vol. 28. Page 98]
On a personal
level - what a privilege to be living in these special times. Especially
living here in Israel and being witness to so many miracles, each of
also has a further responsibility to use all our strength to transform
our own spheres of influence into vessels for miracles. If Mashiach
was ever close - it is now. Let each of do whatever we can to hasten
his arrival.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On numerous
occasions, the Rebbe of Lubavitch recounted the story about the Alter
Rebbe [Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. 1745-1812. Founder of Chabad Chasidut.
Author of many works – the best known are Shulchan Aruch HaRav,
Tanya and Siddur Torah Or (Nusach “Ari”)].
When the
Alter Rebbe was imprisoned in Russia, one of the Russian ministers asked
him about the meaning of the question, “Ayeka?” [Where
are you?] which G-d asked Adam in the Garden of Eden [Bereishit/Genesis
3:9]. Of course G-d knew where he was. What was the purpose of the question?
The Alter Rebbe replied that this is an eternal question G-d asks every
person, "Ayeka? Where are you in the world? What have you
done to fulfill your mission?"
At one
such gathering, a Jew of public influence was present and heard the
Rebbe's words. Following this, he wrote a letter to the Rebbe, asking
if the Rebbe also asked himself the question Ayeka? The Rebbe
responded with a long letter, written in English, explaining how a person
with public influence should ask themselves, "Ayeka?".
In response
to the specific question, the Rebbe replied, "My Ayeka causes
me to reflect on the extent to which my words have brought benefit –
not in terms of pleasant memories, but in terms of “the deed is
the main thing”.
[Sichat
HaShavua #2008]
What do
we ask ourselves?
Shabbat
Shalom, Shaul.
For
last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this week's Reading, see the archive.
FROM
THE SAGES OF KABBALAH ON KabbalaOnline.org
Specifically,
for an overview of the recommended articles in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary
Kabbalists, and more, click to Shelach
One sample:
Ascent Lights
Presuming Positions
.jpg)
From
Rabbi Shaul Leiter
The previous
Torah portion, Shelach, discussed how the spies and Jewish people rebelled
against G-d. This week's portion, Korach, speaks about a rebellion against
their leader, Moses.
To continue,
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