YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
Korach and his group congregated (the Torah uses the root of kahal) before Moshe and Aharon and complained about their allegedly elevating themselves over the rest of the people (Bamidbar 16:3). Then Korach assembled (verb of kahal) a broader assemblage before Moshe and Aharon (ibid. 19). Instead of everyone dying, Moshe arranged that Hashem would have the earth swallow up only the hard-core rebels "from amongst the kahal" (ibid. 33).
The next day, a broad assemblage congregated (root of kahal) to complain about the deaths (ibid. 17:7). With Moshe fearing real danger to the people, who did not catch on to the Divine Will, Moshe acted with urgency. He commanded Aharon to take incense and quickly go among the populace and stop the plague. Indeed, Aharon ran "to the midst of the kahal" and stood between the living and the deceased (ibid. 11-13).
The Torah refers to Korach’s group as being "lost from among the kahal" (ibid. 16:33). The tosefta (Sanhedrin 13:9) cites Rabbi Akiva as positing that their sin was so severe that they lost their lives also in the World to Come. Rabbi Yehuda ben Peteira understood that they lost only their lives in this world. Avot D’Rabbi Natan presents Rabbi Eliezer as having an elusive compromise: "they will neither live nor will they be judged in it." Yet, he sees from the song of Chana (Shmuel I, 2:6) that they will be among those who "go down to purgatory and come up." All agree that their loss came from their sin of removing themselves from the kahal, with the extent of the punishment being disputed.
In contrast, Aharon, despite losing two sons previously trying to bring unauthorized incense, was willing to bring non-standard incense to save the people and run with it amongst the people. Aharon thereby showed for generations that real leadership is putting one’s life on the line on behalf of the nation.
A midrash (Midrash Aggada, Vayikra 8:2) describes the episode as follows. Moshe realized that Hashem was infuriated by the people’s stubbornness not to accept Hashem’s will regarding putting down Korach’s rebellion and told Aharon to take the incense. Aharon reminded Moshe that due to impropriety with the incense, his sons had been killed despite their good intentions. Moshe responded that Aharon should act quickly. When Aharon understood that there was a palpable danger to the people’s lives, he was ready to act even if he would pay for it with his life. About this, it is written that he ran to the midst of the kahal.
This midrash teaches us an important lesson. The ideal leader runs to the midst of the kahal. In other words, he puts his personal matters aside and connects to the broader community, and thereby unites them. The egotistical Korach rightfully was lost "from among the kahal." As the Kli Yakar summarizes, "Because Hashem wanted that all of Israel will form one kahal and bind together and Korach wanted to separate between them, Korach, who wanted to separate, was lost."
May we merit leadership that will unite the different factions in the country!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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.
