Parshas Korach 5765

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

Korach, a cousin of Moshe, gathered a group of dissenters to challenge Moshe's authority, claiming that Moshe had usurped authority on his own, and not under G-d's orders. Moshe, in an uncharacteristically sharp manner, prayed that G-d prove his innocence by having Korach die an unnatural death, by being swallowed into the earth.

Korach tried to influence the nation to follow him with different arguments. He claimed that he was acting on their behalf, and that Moshe was taking unfair advantage of the people. He claimed the entire nation was holy and did not need a leader. The Rabbis explain that Korach was actually a great and wise person, yet he fooled himself into thinking that his intentions were sincere and that his arguments were logical. In reality, Korach was motivated by feelings of jealousy and arrogance. The bias created by jealousy is so powerful that it can often mislead a normally rational person into believing and doing irrational things.

Moshe suggested that Korach and his followers should offer incense together with Aharon, and that while G-d would accept the true offering, the impostors would die. Even then, Korach did not fear taking such a chance. He had deluded himself into believing that G-d would accept his sacrifice over Aharon's.

The reason Moshe reacted so strongly was not because he felt the affront to his own honor. He was concerned that a challenge against his own leadership was a challenge against the authority of the Torah itself. If people thought that Moshe had misrepresented G-d on one point, they might think that he misrepresented Him on other points too. He therefore prayed that Korach's challenge be stopped before it caused irreparable damage.

Even after Korach had been swallowed, there still remained doubts among the people and they complained again. It seems that Moshe's concerns had actually materialized. Another plague killed over fourteen thousand people, until Aharon offered incense, which stopped the plague. This also served to legitimize Aharon's appointment as High Priest.

After the incident involving Korach, the Torah promises different gifts to the Kohanim as an affirmation of their position and authority. They were given tithing from grain and fruits, from the meat of each animal, and the first seasonal fruits each year. They were also promised the firstborn of the animals, and five coins for the human firstborn male. They also received a part of each sacrifice.

The story of Korach illustrates an important lesson about following Torah authority and not letting one's personal inclinations mask the truth.

"Why do you exalt yourselves over the congregation of G-d?" (Num.16:3)

A reporter once asked Rav Moshe Feinstein how he had been appointed as a leader of the Jews. Rav Moshe replied, "Nobody elected or appointed me. I guess people asked me questions, they liked my answers, and they told their friends. Eventually they told more and more people, and the word spread!"

The Jewish people have an intuitive sense as to who qualifies for leadership. Rav Moshe once commented about Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, that he had been a leader as rabbi of a small village, as a rabbinic judge in London, and as a retired rabbi in Jerusalem. It wasn't the position that made him what he was--it was the person.

Did You Know...

The Tachanun prayers are not recited on certain occasions, such as on holidays or Rosh Chodesh, or when a mohel who will be circumcising that day is present, or if the father of the child or the sandek (the one who holds the baby during the bris) is present.

Similarly if a groom throughout Sheva B'rachos (the first week after the wedding) is present, it is not recited. Most authorities require Tachanun at a Bar Mitzvah.

It is also not recited in the home of a mourner throughout shiva. If the mourner attends services in the synagogue, however, he does not recite Tachanun, but the congregation does recite it.