Rabbi's Corner

Do you remember the American Presidential Campaign of 2020 and the two nights of the "first" debates involving ten of the Democratic candidates contending with each other for the nomination to run for President?  I would dare say that both nights were filled with political, theological, legal, and interpersonal disagreements between the candidates.  Some of the issues being debated involved some very heated exchanges, even more than mere arguments.  The Rabbis of the Talmud call such an exchange between people a "makhlokhet," an argument that can create an insurmountable separation between the parties involved.  We are seeing the same thing in Israeli politics at this time with the formation of the new Bennet/Lapid government with its eventual replacement of the Netanyahu government.  To say that Israeli politics is filled with volatility is to state the clearly obvious.  What saddens me the most is to see that often during the exchanges between either American politicians or Israeli politicians what seems to be missing is the respect we should be showing each other simply because we are human beings.  Each of us is created B’Tzelem Elohim (in the Image of G-d).  How apropos that we read about the most famous makhlokhet of the Torah in this week's Torah portion.

In this week's parashah, Parashat Korach, we find the makhlokhet which occurs between Moshe and Korach.  Korach, along with Datan and Aviram and Ohn along with 250 members of B'nei Yisrael, challenges both Moshe and Aharon.  We read the following:

“And they assembled against Moshe and Aharon and (they) said to them: ‘Rav Lachem! --- You have gone too far!  For the entire congregation is holy - all of them - in their midst is HaShem.  Why then do you raise yourselves above the assembly of HaShem?’” (BeMidbar 16:3)

 So just what is happening here?  Korach and his followers are accusing Moshe and Aharon of being "holier than thou," and they attempt to raise up a challenge against Moshe's leadership.  Moshe responds by saying the same words: "Rav Lachem --- You have gone too far!"  He tells the rebels that they are not challenging him; they are challenging HaShem!  The Torah tells us that the result of this makhlokhet is that Korach and his followers are swallowed up by the earth.  Does this mean that the Torah is telling us that we must never disagree with each other let alone with those who lead us?  The answer to this question is really quite simple.  Korach's mistake was not that he dared to disagree with Moshe.  Korach's mistake centered around the way in which he disagreed with Moshe.

During the time between Pesach and Rosh HaShanah, we read "Pirkei Avot" (the Ethics of the Fathers) after mincha services on Shabbat.  In Pirkei Avot, we find the following:

"A controversy for Heaven's sake will have lasting value.  But a controversy not for Heaven's sake will not endure.  What is an example of a controversy for Heaven's sake?  The debates of Hillel and Shammai.  What is an example of a controversy not for Heaven's sake?  The rebellion of Korach and his associates." (Pirkei Avot 5:17)

Korach, in his attempt to unseat Moshe's leadership, did not debate issues or abilities.  Instead, he tried to defame Moshe's character by falsely accusing him of illicit activity.  And it is his transgressions of slander, anger, jealousy, and envy that eventually lead to Korach's death and to the deaths of those who followed him.

The lesson found in this week's parashah needs to be heeded by anyone who finds themselves in a debate or a disagreement, be they a leader or not.  Yes, we may lose our temper.  Yes, we may end up saying things we should not have said.  Yes, we may even blow things all out of proportion.  But when and if we do this, we would do well to remember Korach.  While on occasion we may in some way even identify with Korach, we must always, always, always treat each other with respect, celebrating both our commonalities and our differences.  After all, is this not what being created B’Tzelem Elohim is all about?