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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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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
