Tag: Korach

Parshas Korach (5762)

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Parshas Korach (5762)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The whole episode of Korach is puzzling. They have their respectable positions in the midst of many beautiful aspects of the whole panorama of the actuality of the realization of the Torah life in the desert. Korach persists in upsetting this epitome of tranquility. The prognosis of this is a very basic issue revealed to us by Chazal and elucidated in Mesilas Yesharim. “Gam HaNefesh Lo Timolai”—an analogy of a great royal princess coming from the greatest royal luxuries and fineries, the grandest of tapestries, the finest of chamber music, magnificent culinary treats matched by the finest china and cutlery. She marries a simple, coarse farmer and in constantly plagued with pangs of yearning for her palace. The peasant is puzzled and confused as to why he cannot satisfy her. He presents her with his crude concept of beauty and she is put off with disappointment, frustration and horror. The neshama which comes from higher spheres suffers great disappointment in these materialistic surroundings where it can’t find a place or peace for itself. This is responsible for the unreasonable, irrational unrest that plagues the human race. It explains why we are unique in the whole Creation and suffer from this disruptions and destructiveness.

As long as their basic needs are taken care of, all the Creation, all the creatures, are at peace. They don’t organize and rebel. They don’t from political parties and false idealism. On the positive side this is what drives us to strive for perfection and spirituality in this world and motivates us to teshuva. When properly harnassed this is our greatest driving force.

Korach, Korach, everything is so wonderful, why can’t you be happy, sit back and enjoy the blessings and the miracles?

Human, human, Yiddel, Yiddel, why you can’t you sit back and be happy and enjoy your blessings?

Have a wonderful week, and a wonderful Chodesh full of yeshuos and nechamos for all Clal Yisroel.

Parshas Korach (5760)

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Parshas Korach (5760)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

From all of the negative incidents and incriminated individuals in the Chumash perhaps one of the most acutely criticized and put down is Korach. It is important to understand why he was placed on such a unique negative pedestal. In general, why is “machlokes” rated so highly on the “avlah” scale? Likewise we find that the flip side of machlokes which is “sholom” also has a top rating. To quote the Medrash in Bamidbar 21:1: “HaTorah Kula Shalom”. A person returns from a journey—we inquire as to his sholom, in the morning it is Shalom, in the evening it is Shalom, the bircas Krias Shma ends—HaPoreis Sucas Shalom, Shmone Esrei concludes with Shalom, Bircas Kohanim ends with Shalom. R’ Shimon ben Chalafta says that there is no vessel that contains blessing except shalom. The significance of shalom comes to a climax to the extent that it is one of the names of HaShem. It is considered so holy that even if mentioned in the context of an individual’s name it cannot be said in the bathhouse. The negative consequences of machlokes are quite obvious. The devastation and havoc that it leaves in its wake is sometime irreparable. But evil has many tools in its wicked arsenal, why is machlokes singled out for its wickedness?

Another aspect that is greatly puzzling was the punishment, the bowels of the earth opening and consuming Korach and his entourage. Weren’t any of the conventional punishments sufficient, skila, sraifa, hereg or chenek? Why did Moshe Rabbenu have to request such a severe and radical retribution?

R’ Tzaddok states that although in certain ways the ‘umos haolam’ are superior to Klal Yisroel in derech eretz it doesn’t have any real value since derech eretz is the consequence of the recognition of the presence of HaShem in the world. Since we are the only ones that possess this true insight of HaShem, it follows, says R’ Tzaddok, that we have the real derech eretz. The difficulty with his innovation is obvious. What is the connection between the two? I wish to share my insight in understanding his words. “Kulam BiChachma Asisa”—the whole creation shouts and is full of the infinite wisdom of HaShem. This statement is not just a suitable name for an enormous chapter, nor the name of a humongous book but the name of library filled with millions of books. As time marches on and the generations unravel the wisdom of HaShem becomes more revealed. Every organism, every cell, has such complete order, any amount of words in any language would only be an absolute massive understatement to this order. HaShem is revealing to us His infinite wisdom in which we see the ultimate of order, to enlighten us, to reveal and to instruct us how to live our lives; structured with order. This is the real derech eretz being instructed from HaShem’s creation.

In the same light of reasoning, from the smallest microorganism to the vastest aspects of the universe, the workings of harmony, coordination and ultra interdependency shout shalom. The bees and the plants, the plants and the nitrates in the air, the plants and the rays of the sun, photosynthesis—to mention a speck. Machlokes is diametrically opposed to everything that the creation is composed of and stands for and has no place at all anywhere in the universe. The only exception of shalom in the creation is from the misuse of free will that was given to mankind. This is the only actualization that is found where we can find the opposite of shalom, machlokes.

Just open up the earth and let Korach be swallowed. Any other punishment or affliction would possibly leave some trace of him. This creation is coordination and cooperation—there is not place for machlokes. It is important to always keep in mind that the state of shalom isn’t when you are sitting alone or amongst people that agree about everything. When we are in the presence of those that we are not in agreement with and don’t see “I” to “I” with, and manage to work it out together, this is shalom. The ideal of negating machlokes is inspiring, but the goal is to bear it in mind when our blood is boiling over exasperating issues.

Shabbos Shalom V’Chaim shel Shalom.

Parshas Korach (5761)

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Parshas Korach (5761)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

Our parsha has the big machlokes that Korach stormed up.  We can see from the great concern that Moshe Rabeinu had about the incident and the gravity of the punishment that there was nothing in the Creation that was severe enough and the punishment needed a new creation.  All this spells out to us that there was some element here that is much worse than we can imagine.  Rashi (16:1) quotes a well-known Medrash (18:3) that reveals to us one of the main implements of Korach’s venomous arsenal.  He had a pointed question regarding a garment that was completely “techeles” and a question about a mezuza and room full of seforim.  The bottom line of all this and its destructiveness was “hischilu l’sachek olov:”—he caused Moshe Rabainu to be a source of ridicule and laughter.  Korach was harnessing the power of one of the most potent tools for devastating spirituality; “laitzanus”, derision and frivolity.  Korach, having such a wicked plot, and relying on this for his weapon, in itself says a lot.

It is popularly known that “laitzanus” isn’t one of the recommended pastimes, but the Mesilas Yesharim (chapter 5) really opens our eyes to its awesomeness.  The Mesilas Yesharim explains that it knocks our thinking faculties out of order.  This is to such a degree that the person is not even receptive or open for assistance.  It immunizes a person against any constructive criticism or for any rebuke to have any effect or influence on him.  It has the power to eradicate and delete the storehouses of spiritual treasures he has already acquired.

We are living in an era that ‘laitzanus’ plays a constant role in our behavior pattern.  It is woven into the fiber of everything from casual conversation to our most serious endeavors.  We are in need of much Divine help and assistance.

My most sincere blessings to you all for success.