Another tragic episode that occurred during the nation’s first couple of years in the desert involved Korach, a first cousin of Moshe and Aharon. He challenged Moshe’s authority and organized a rebellion of his followers, to wrest the leadership away from Moshe and Aharon.
Although Korach claimed to be acting on behalf of the nation, the Talmud actually sees two selfish motives in his actions. Korach saw that leadership positions were given to other members of his tribe, and that he had been bypassed. He thought that even if Moshe and Aharon were more deserving than he, his cousin Elitzafan, who had been appointed as prince, was not. This jealousy was one motivating factor in his quest for “justice”.
Prophetically, too, Korach saw that his descendant Samuel the Prophet would be on a similar spiritual level as Moshe. As an ancestor he felt that he too deserved some degree of honor. This desire for honor was another factor that drove Korach to start his uprising.
Although Korach may have had some sincere motivations, nonetheless his objection to Moshe’s authority was a serious offense. Once the people would think that Moshe made his own decisions, his credibility as transmitter of the Divine Will would be seriously undermined. After all, if his leadership appointments were his own doing, perhaps the mitzvahs were also his own.
Moshe visited Korach and his followers to warn them to recant, but to no avail. Once a person feels that he is religiously justified in his complaints, it is very difficult to sway his mind. Moshe prayed to G-d that the dispute be settled in a supernatural manner. Moshe would challenge Korach and his followers to bring incense to the altar, together with Aharon. If there were any credence to their claim, their incense would be accepted. If, however, there was no truth to their claim, and Moshe’s authority was totally in consonance with G-d’s will, the incense would not be accepted and Korach, his family and belongings, would be completely swallowed into the earth.
Korach and his family were miraculously swallowed into the earth, and a Divine fire killed his followers. The fire pans, in which they had brought the incense, were hammered into a cover for the altar. This would serve as a reminder of what had happened to those who wished to undermine Moshe’s authority, and the severity of engaging in discord.
Amazingly, even after this incident, the people were still somewhat unconvinced regarding the unique status of the tribe of Levi. G-d instructed the prince of each tribe to place a staff in the Tabernacle, and the chosen tribe’s staff would miraculously blossom. Again, a miracle occurred and Aharon’s staff blossomed with almonds. These miracles were all necessary to ensure that no person could ever challenge the validity of His Torah.
“...and he should not be like Korach and his followers...” (Num. 17:5)
On August 14, 2003, there was a major blackout in much of the eastern part of the US, causing great financial loss to many companies. Thankfully, power was restored to the Klein’s Kosher Ice Cream Company in Brooklyn early the following morning, thus avoiding any loss.
Abba Klein’s first thoughts then were how his main competitor, Mehadrin Dairy, was faring. Upon hearing that Mehadrin’s power had not yet been restored, Mr. Klein called the owner up and offered him space in his frozen warehouse. Mehadrin accepted the generous offer. Mr. Klein also hooked up special cables to the Mehadrin trucks, thus preventing any loss.
What could have been an opportunity for great gain between two rivals was used instead as a great opportunity to sanctify G-d’s Name.
Did You Know...
A corpse may not be moved on Shabbos, nor may burial arrangements be made, even through a gentile. On Yom Tov, however, the rabbis were more lenient, so as to prevent the corpse from having to remain unburied for more than a day.
On the first day of Yom Tov it is permissible for a gentile to prepare the burial. A Jew may wash and dress the corpse, and place it in a grave, but the preparation of the shrouds and coffin, the digging, and the covering of the coffin with earth, may not be done by a Jew.
On the second day of Yom Tov a Jew may perform these activities too, if a gentile is not available. It is only permissible, however, if the burial will take place on Yom Tov. One may not do any preparations on Yom Tov to bury a corpse after Yom Tov.
