Perhaps we do not give enough credit to the average Jew. People are capable of deciding between right and wrong. Those who err do not necessarily lack astuteness; rather, the decision might have been more difficult than we think. Let us take the Korach controversy as an example. I say Korach, rather than Korach/Moshe, because Moshe Rabbeinu was passive. He did not enter the fray. He responded to the vitriol, but did not become a partner with Korach in the dispute. It was Korach against Moshe. It takes two participants to make a full-scale controversy. The Korach dispute had one participant – Korach.
Let us return to the scenario that confronted the average Jew. Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen were on one side. It would seem that it was a no-brainer. Korach, however, brought along with him 250 heads of the Sanhedrin. These were not average citizens. They were all gedolim, Torah giants, leaders without peer. Now the deck was no longer stacked in favor of Moshe and Aharon – or so one who did not know better might think. What should a simple Jew do? On one side stood Moshe, the man who was Hashem’s Divine agent for: executing the miracles in Egypt; splitting the Red Sea; facilitating the manna; leading them through the Wilderness. On the other side, crying “foul”, were the gedolei ha’dor, greatest Torah leaders of the generation. They, too, had something with which to contend, and it was not in agreement with Moshe. What does the average Jew do in such a circumstance? Can we really place such a heavy onus of guilt and blame on the poor Jew who was impressed by the fact that 250 Torah leaders had sided with Korach?
Horav Reuven Karlinstein, zl, offers a practical reply which serves as a lodestar for us all whenever a dispute arises in which we are confronted with (what appears to be) distinguished Torah giants on each side. Observe to which side the archi parchi, vagabounds, tramps, low, base people attach themselves. Gedolim on this side; gedolim on the other side. What does one do? Take a look to which side Dassan and Aviram, the two miscreants whose life’s work was to impugn the integrity of Moshe’s leadership and to undermine Hashem’s every command to Klal Yisrael, attach themselves. At every dispute, we must take a penetrating look at who else has joined the fray. If it is the trouble makers, stonethrowers, slanderers, then no Torah Jew may be a part of it. Once the archi parchi enter the scene, it is our cue to leave.
