Rav Kook in the Weekly Portion - A Life of Wealth and Honor

Parashat Hashavua: A House Full of Sefarim and a Tallit of Techeilet

Moshe Rabbeinu's Fight Against Corrupt Leadership

Stand in their shoes

We Will Go up!

Can We Identify the Techeiles?

When we are commanded about wearing tzitzis, the Torah includes two mitzvos. In addition to the mitzvah of wearing tzitzis threads on the corners of the garment, there is an additional mitzvah that some of the tzitzis threads should be dyed with a special dye called techeiles. (There is a dispute among the Rishonim how many of the tzitzis threads are to be dyed techeiles.) This dye must be made from a species called chilazon (Tosefta Menachos 9:6).

Winners And Choosers

Korach, Then and Now

He Ran to the Midst of the Congregation”

Hierarchy and Politics: The Never-Ending Story

Our Strength is in Our Unity

In Josephus' description of what happened after the destruction, he talks about the thickness of the stones in Jerusalem and the difficulty of destroying them. "I would never have been able to breach these walls if it wasn't for the Jews fighting among themselves and the disputes between them." About the unlimited power we can attain and about the havoc that controversy can cause.

The Prophet Shmuel "Caused" the Sin

The Prophet Shmuel is the "cause" for the uprising by Korah and his gang. But if we look more deeply, we will see that Shmuel is also the rectification of Korah's sin! How so?

High-Sounding Words

The rebellion of Korach is not a small offense but a great personal failing like the sin of the Golden Calf. It is a mortal blow to the continuity of the Jewish people and to its very survival.

When Truth Is Sacrificed to Power

What was wrong with the actions of Korach and his fellow rebels? They had a point. Why was there a hierarchy, with Moses as leader and Aaron as High Priest?

How to Handle Disagreements

Machloket (disagreement) is an inseparable part of the Jewish experience. Clarifying a matter and listening to the other side – yes! Personal insults and lack of respect toward the person with whom we disagree – no and, again, no!

Korach – He has a point

One can define Korach's camp as an ideological group, except that it was tainted by the faults that bring down many failed ideologies.

The Temple - a Place of Life

The dry branch left in the Mishkan starts to blossom and grows almonds. This Holy place is the source of life and all who come there get a new life!

Preserving the Old, Inspiring the New

Why did Moshe respond so differently with Korah and his gang than with Eldad and Medad? Regarding the latter, he prayed that everyone should be a prophet - yet with Korah, he was greatly angered at the claim that "everyone is equally holy." Why?

Blurring Differences

discussing the revival of Korah's social ideology in the modern era, and its the rejection of the basic concept in Jewish society that different people have different functions and different ways of serving HaShem.

Servant Leadership

What exactly was wrong in what Korach and his motley band of fellow agitators said? was what they said true or false?