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TORAH PORTION
A Weekly Glimpse at the
Torah Portion Rabbi Bernard Gerson
Parshat Korach
Week of June 22-28, 2008 / 19-25 Sivan 5768
Torah Reading: Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
First Trienniel Reading: Numbers 16:1 - 17:15
Haftarah (Prophetic Selection): First Samuel 11:14 - 12:22
Light Candles for Shabbat: June
27,
8:14 pm
Shabbat Ends: June 28, 9:14 pm |
SUMMARY OF THE CONTENTS:
SEDRA AT A GLANCE:
In this week's parasha, complaints and rebellions reach a dangerous
high, threatening to destroy the unity of the Israelite people. A
man named Korach, along with his followers Dattan, Aviram and 250
others, challenge Moses' and Aaron's leadership. Korach has powerful
arguments, to which Moses realizes he must respond. Moses sets the
next day for a dramatic test. When Korach refuses to stay his
rebellion, this test demonstrates that Moses and Aaron are in fact
God's choice to lead the people. Korach, Datan, and Aviram, along
with their entire families, are swallowed up by the earth, and the
250 other men are consumed by a heavenly fire. Seeing this, a riot
breaks out among the people. A plague is sent as a punishment
against the rebellious people. Aaron intervenes and stops it, but
not before thousands of people perish. At the end of the portion,
the duties of the priests and Levites are clarified. Also laws are
stated which specify that the first fruits of plants, animals, and
human beings are to be dedicated to God.
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FOCUS TEXT: |
INSIGHTS:
Judaism considers humility to be an important
attribute. In the words of Pirkei Avot (Chapter 4), we should 'be
of lowly spirit'. Moses is described as 'exceedingly humble,
more than any person on the face of the earth' (Numbers 12:3)
Confronted with Korach's rebellion, we might therefore have expected
the humble Moses to respond in a conciliatory fashion. Moses'
response was nothing of the kind. He reacts with indignation,
imploring G-d:
"Do not accept their offering, I have not taken even a single
donkey of theirs, nor have I wronged even one of them".
There is no attempt at compromise or admission of possible fault,
however small. Is this not the reaction of the arrogant rather than
the humble?
It is important not to confuse humility with meekness or low
self-esteem. The truly humble person is not in doubt of his
qualities, which may be great and many. However, not withstanding
this positive self-awareness, his ego does not become inflated. This
is because he realizes that his strengths and qualities are gifts
from G-d and therefore do not constitute a reason to feel superior
to another whom the Almighty has not blessed with the same talents.
On the contrary, they should engender within him a heightened sense
of responsibility.
Moses recognized the great qualities with which G-d had endowed him.
He also knew that those qualities carried with them responsibilities
and he would not consider relinquishing the position that enabled
him to discharge those responsibilities. Nevertheless he retained a
genuine humility that prompted him to care for and respect all his
brethren.
(with thanks to Rabbi Hershel Rader)
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Study leads to precision,
precision leads to zeal, zeal leads to cleanliness, cleanliness leads to
restraint, restraint leads to purity, purity leads to holiness, holiness
leads to humility, humility leads to fear of sin, fear of sin leads to
saintliness, saintliness leads to possessing the holy spirit, the holy
spirit leads to eternal life.” The Talmud,
Tractate Avodah Zarah 20b |
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