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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
Let us look at the machloket with Korach. Why did there need to be two proofs that the Moshe/Aharon approach was correct – the swallowing up of Korach and the flowering of Aharon’s staff? The answer appears to emerge from the realization that there were two different disputes – about Moshe’s leadership and about the choice of Aharon as kohen gadol.
The first miracle (Bamidbar 16:28-30) was "called" by Moshe in advance. If the ground would open and swallow up Korach and his cohorts, it would prove that Moshe was correct in his leadership. Of course, Moshe succeeded. However, this solved only the issue of Moshe’s authority to decide.
The question of whether Aharon was the optimal choice was proven differently. Each of the tribes brought staffs, Aharon’s staff was placed among them, and Aharon’s staff grew flowers/fruit overnight. Moshe and not Aharon involved himself in this "contest" (ibid. 17:22-23). What is the difference between the two challenges?
Moshe held two leadership positions. The first was as the nation’s "political" leader, which required having the nation’s recognition and support. Not all the people did so originally, seeing him as just another human being, and some treated him with suspicion because he grew up as an Egyptian prince in Pharaoh’s court. As a political leader, Moshe had to negotiate with kings throughout the Middle East and take actions that were not popular with all the people.
Moshe’s second task was as the recipient and teacher of the Torah. In this task, he refrained from food and sleep for 40 days and went up to the Heaven to return with the Torah, which is of divine origin. He is the only person who merited to speak "face to face" with Hashem, and his extreme spirituality made it necessary to wear a mask after speaking to Him. Whoever argues with Moshe in this role denies Hashem’s most basic tenets, as belief in the eternal relevance of the Torah that Moshe taught is a foundation of Jewish belief.
These points were concretized by the miracle in the beginning of our parasha. As one who is on the level of an angel, Moshe’s decisions must not be attacked, as Korach learned. The people learned to accept him.
Aharon, in contrast, did not need the people to accept him. The kohanim and levi’im are human beings who are chosen to serve special roles in the service of Hashem. Their sensitive tasks require them to take on special restrictions. Their roles are not those which they pursue but those which they are born into. A kohen is a kohen, and a levi is a levi. This is what was proved by the miracle of the flowering staff.
Let us continue to embrace disagreement, while keeping it within the realm of respectful behavior. In that way, we will learn from Aharon, who "loved all creations, drew them close to the Torah, and made peace between Jews and between them and their Father in Heaven."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
