Korach – Peninim on the Torah

וילונו כל עדת בני ישראל ממחרת על משה ועל אהרן לאמר אתם המתים את עם ד'

The entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael complained on the morrow against Moshe and Aharon, saying, “You have killed the People of Hashem!” (17:6)

Leveling the complaint at Moshe and Aharon is ludicrous. The people saw how miraculously the ground had opened up beneath the usurpers, swallowing them before returning to its normal state. Moshe and Aharon were probably just as surprised as the people. They all saw the fire that burned the 250 men who had prepared and offered the incense. Clearly, Moshe and Aharon played no role in their deaths. Furthermore, why are these men referred to as Am Hashem, the people of G-d? They certainly were not acting very much like members of the Jewish People. Horav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Shlita,…

Home -> 5785 -> Korach

ואם בריאה וברא ד' ופצתה האדמה את פיה ובלע אותם

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5785

But if Hashem will create a phenomenon, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them. (16:30)

Moshe Rabbeinu’s reaction to the sinful rebellion of Korach and his followers is atypical of our quintessential leader. This was the not first time the Jewish People had rebelled. First, it was the sin of the Golden Calf, which consisted of idol worship accompanied by licentious revelry. Nonetheless, Moshe asked Hashem to forgive them. Then came the meraglim, the princes who left as spies and returned as rebellious usurpers. We observe Tishah B’Av, our national day of mourning, thanks to their scurrilous report and the people’s inexcusable reaction. Once again, Moshe asked Hashem to accept their sincere repentance. Concerning Korach,…

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כי כל העדה כלם קדושים ובתוכם ד' ומדוע תתנשאו על קהל ד'

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5785

For the entire assembly – all of them – are holy and Hashem is among them. Why do you exalt yourselves over the congregation of Hashem? (16:3)

Korach had all the answers. After all, he stipulated that he was acting l’shem Shomayim, for the sake of Heaven. He had no envy. He cared about the people, and they required a change in leadership. Chazal (Pirkei Avos 5:11) distinguish between: a machlokes, controversy, whose goal is to seek the truth and raise the banner of Hashem, a machlokes l’shem Shomayim; and one which is for personal benefit, she’lo l’shem Shomayim. Rambam writes that the words of he whose goal is the truth, unembellished and unvarnished, will have a kiyum, endure. Horav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zl, explains that the Rambam…

Home -> 5784 -> Korach

השב את מטה אהרן לפני העדות למשמרת

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5784

Put Aharon’s staff before the Testimony as a safe-keeping. (17:25)

Leadership is commonly understood to be the result of an interplay among various leadership qualities and positive innate character traits, skills and the external circumstances which serve as the backdrop for the leader to perform his role. Obviously, the characteristics of the community which he must shepherd is a major component. Ultimately, who is to become Klal Yisrael’s manhig, leader, is Divinely-mandated. Hashem confers leadership on whom He deems deserving of the position and who would best lead the nation during its present circumstances. Over time, the chosen leader will cultivate the qualities of communication, empathy, decision-making and vision which…

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אם כמות כל האדם ימותון אלה ופקודת כל האדם יפקד עליהם לא ד' שלחני

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5784

If these die like the death of all men and the destiny of all men is visited upon them, then it is not Hashem Who has sent me. (16:29)

Korach and his henchmen impugned the integrity of Moshe Rabbeinu’s leadership. This was a mutiny against our quintessential leader and what he represented – Hashem and His Torah. This was unmitigated chutzpah at its nadir. We have unfortunately had despots throughout our nation’s history who have raised their fists against Torah leadership and have denounced our nation’s bond with the Torah. Korach, however, was the first to breach the peaceful coexistence of our people and disparage its leadership. His punishment was equally unparalleled: He went to his grave – alive. The entire Korach debacle begs elucidation. First, the Torah has…

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העיני האנשים ההם תנקר לא נעלה

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5784

Even if you gouge out the eyes of those men, we shall not go up. (15:14)

Rashi explains that Dasan and Aviram replied to Moshe Rabbeinu’s request for a meeting, “Nothing you do – even if you blind us – will make us come.” Sforno explains their chutzpah as implying: “Do you think you can blind us to your failures?” We suggest an alternative explanation. Apparently, they specified eyes and blindness for a reason. They could have simply said, “There is nothing you can do; no punishment will convince us to listen to you.” I think it all boils down to how one views a person or a situation. If one’s vision is superficial, cursory, he…

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ויקח קרח

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5784

Korach separated himself. (15:1)

Parashas Korach stands alone as the parsha which is yafeh nidreshes, expounded well, presenting many details. In his Teivas Gome, the author of the Pri MeGadim explains Rashi’s statement rationally. Most halachos of the Torah are time-sensitive, applicable during specific times. For instance, one does not lecture about Pesach during the Three Weeks, or about Chanukah during the month of Shevat. Parashas Korach, in which much of its theme touches on the deleterious effects of machlokes, controversy, sadly applies constantly. We are aware of no geographic or chronologic limitations to machlokes. It happens more often than we care to acknowledge,…

Home -> 5783 -> Korach

ואכלתם אתו בכל מקום אתם וביתכם כי שכר הוא לכם. חלף עבדתכם

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5783

You may eat it everywhere, you and your household, for it is a wage for you in exchange for your service. (18:31)

The Levi is instructed to tithe from his maaser, tithe, and give this terumas maaser to the Kohen. Once the tithe has been separated and given to the Kohen, the Levi is free to use it at will, wherever he so pleases. It is no longer holy and may be eaten even in a ritually contaminated state. The Torah appears to underscore the fact that it is cheilef avodasechem; in exchange for your service. This means that the maaser that the Levi received is a form of wages for his service to the nation. Horav Chaim Toito, Shlita, relates the…

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לא חמור אחד מהם נשאתי ולא הרעתי את אחד מהם

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5783

I have not taken even a donkey of theirs, nor have I wronged one of them. (16:15)

This is the sordid path of controversy. It begins with a simple dispute concerning a communal or congregational issue and quickly expands and erupts into character assassination. Moshe Rabbeinu says, “I took nothing from them. Even when I transported my wife and sons from Midyan, I neither expected nor received reimbursement.” He was traveling for the nation. His expenses should have been paid. He wanted nothing, understanding that, when a community seeks to impugn its leadership, its first salvo will be concerning money. He uses their hard-earned funds for his own personal benefit, etc. Moshe declares emphatically, “I took nothing…

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זאת עשו קחו לכם מחתות... והיה האיש אשר יבחר ד' הוא הקדוש

Sruly Schnair In Korach, 5783

Take for yourselves fire pans… then the man whom Hashem will choose – he is the holy one. (16:6,7)

Moshe Rabbeinu told Korach’s followers that the way to determine who Hashem had chosen was through the medium of Ketores, the Incense service. He chose Ketores because it is a service that Hashem desires above all others, but it carries the potential of death if it is not carried out properly. In other words, if Korach’s followers were in the right and Korach should lead, they would take the prize. However, if (as it ultimately was indicated) they were wrong, they would die. The decision would come from Hashem. One would think these men, who were Torah scholars of note,…

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וילונו כל עדת בני ישראל ממחרת על משה ועל אהרן לאמר אתם המתים את עם ד'

The entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael complained on the morrow against Moshe and Aharon, saying, “You have killed the People of Hashem!” (17:6)

ואם בריאה וברא ד' ופצתה האדמה את פיה ובלע אותם

But if Hashem will create a phenomenon, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them. (16:30)

כי כל העדה כלם קדושים ובתוכם ד' ומדוע תתנשאו על קהל ד'

For the entire assembly – all of them – are holy and Hashem is among them. Why do you exalt yourselves over the congregation of Hashem? (16:3)

השב את מטה אהרן לפני העדות למשמרת

Put Aharon’s staff before the Testimony as a safe-keeping. (17:25)

אם כמות כל האדם ימותון אלה ופקודת כל האדם יפקד עליהם לא ד' שלחני

If these die like the death of all men and the destiny of all men is visited upon them, then it is not Hashem Who has sent me. (16:29)

העיני האנשים ההם תנקר לא נעלה

Even if you gouge out the eyes of those men, we shall not go up. (15:14)

ויקח קרח

Korach separated himself. (15:1)

ואכלתם אתו בכל מקום אתם וביתכם כי שכר הוא לכם. חלף עבדתכם

You may eat it everywhere, you and your household, for it is a wage for you in exchange for your service. (18:31)

לא חמור אחד מהם נשאתי ולא הרעתי את אחד מהם

I have not taken even a donkey of theirs, nor have I wronged one of them. (16:15)

זאת עשו קחו לכם מחתות... והיה האיש אשר יבחר ד' הוא הקדוש

Take for yourselves fire pans… then the man whom Hashem will choose – he is the holy one. (16:6,7)

YEARS

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