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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Korach
It is hard to ignore that Parashat Korach, with its account of Korach and his supporters’ opposition to the leadership under Moshe Rabbeinu, comes right after Parashat Shelach, which describes the people broadly accepting the spies’ thesis that Bnei Yisrael were incapable of conquering Eretz Yisrael from its powerful residents. The Torah also hints in various ways, including the use of conspicuously similar terminology, that the episodes are connected.
One of the major words of the story of the spies is the root aloh (going up … to the Land). The righteous spies said "aloh na’aleh" (we shall certainly go up) (Bamidbar 13:30). The next pasuk uses the root twice. Surprisingly, Korach said repeatedly that he would not "go up," even though he was referring just to going to meet Moshe (ibid. 16:12-14).
The two parshiyot also both use the description of lands as zavat chalav u’dvash (flowing with milk and honey). The good spies did that in reference to Eretz Yisrael (ibid. 14:8), and Korach (ibid. 16:13-14) used it both in terms of Eretz Yisrael and, actually, Egypt.
Finally, both parshiyot refer to the nemeses of Moshe as the eidah (the assemblage). (See Bamidbar 14:27, 35 regarding the spies, and ibid. 26:9, ibid. 27:3, and Tehillim 106:16 regarding the assemblage of Korach.)
The midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Korach 750) makes this type of connection very directly and poignantly. Datan and Aviram criticized Moshe for taking credit for the great good of taking the people out of Egypt, whereas they highlighted the fertile nature of Egypt and the unwelcoming desolation of the wilderness.
It therefore is likely that after the spies were divinely killed and the whole nation was punished that they would have to stay in the desert for a long time, there remained a nucleus of rabble-rousers, supporters of Korach, who opposed going to Eretz Yisrael, for which Moshe was preparing them. When they said, "We will not go up," this included not going up to the Land or going to the section of the encampment around the Mishkan, where Moshe spent his time. These people did not believe that, spiritually, the Mishkan was the highest point in the encampment (see Midrash Aggada, Bamidbar 16:12). That is why they said "We will not go up" and not "We will not go." They likewise were not willing to accept that Eretz Yisrael is [spiritually] the highest place in the world (see Sifrei, Eikev 37).
In these times, when our enemies are trying their hardest to make it difficult for us to live in the Land, we will borrow two declarations from the two discussed parshiyot: "The Land is very, very good" (Bamidbar 14:7). Also, "Moshe is truthful and his teachings are true, and Korach and his group speak mistruths" (Midrash Tanchuma, Korach 11). We thank Hashem with great enthusiasm for the great privilege to live in a Jewish state, whose achievements in every facet have been tremendous. Let us do this with unity and willingness to listen to each other, as is needed now.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
