Korach in the Book of Numbers

"Vayikach Korach - And Korach took..." (Numbers 16:1) Sivan 23, 5768/June 26, 2008 Thus begins the story of Korach, the man who would be king. The two opening words in Hebrew, "Vayikach Korach," really tell us all we need to know about Korach. He took. Even before the verse can finish conveying just what Korach took, it is clear that Korach takes what he wants, when he wants, and for his own nefarious purposes. As it turns out the verse in this instance is referring to 250 men that Korach took. How did he take these men? He took them by their hearts, feeding the sweet but deceitful lines about holiness and equality. Why should Moses and Aaron lead, he asked, when we are all equally holy? It remains a persuasive argument to this very day. If we are all equal, and all holy, and each of us can approach G-d in his own way, than why can't we pick and choose, and cut and paste to suit our own needs, the way we serve G-d? Or to use more current terminology, the way we define good and bad, the way in which we perceive and define justice. We are taught by our sages that Korach was a talmid chacham - a Torah scholar, but his great knowledge of Torah could not prove a fence against his aggrandized sense of self and entitlement. Not being able to find in Torah a reason why he, and not Moses, should lead the people, and why he, and not Aaron, should be the High Priest, he jettisoned the Torah, deciding to go it alone, in order to attain what he felt was his. We are taught in Ethics of the Fathers (5:13) the following: "He who says, "What is mine is yours, and what is yours, is yours," is a pious person. But one who says, "What is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine", is wicked." When Moses first hears Korach's contention that he, Moses, has amassed too much power for himself, "he [Moses] fell upon his face." (Numbers 16:4) In response to the charge that he has greedily taken for himself that which belongs to others, he shows total self-abnegation - literally falling on his face. Moses has only what G-d has given him, and desires nothing more. He is the pious man: "What is mine is yours, and what is yours, is yours: what's mine belongs to You G-d, and what You have delegated to others is also Yours." Korach inverts this formula, saying: "What is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine: what you G-d have given to Moses belongs to me. I desire and therefore deserve it. Surely it stands to reason that if what belongs to me is mine, than also what You have granted to others also belongs to me." In effect, the will of Korach trumps the will of G-d, rendering G-d's will, well... irrelevant. Once Korach has reached this place in his logic there is no G-d, there is no Torah, there is no creation. The clever trap Korach set for Moses has caught himself instead. Korach has painted himself into an existential corner. He is alone. The beautiful and tragic irony of Korach is that once he has made it indisputably clear to G-d that His creation can't contain the ambition of Korach, G-d "accepts" his position, as it were, and creates, yes, creates, specially and solely for Korach and his following, a place in this universe where they can truly be alone, unencumbered by G-d, and man, and Torah: "The earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them and their houses, along with all the men who were with Korach and their property." (Numbers 16:32) Of course Moses was unique. But his model for selfless leadership for the true good of the people of Israel should enlighten our eyes even today. Far too often modern day Korachs usurp the role reserved for the righteous, and lead the nation not to the tent of meeting to take council with G-d, but to the pit of their iniquity, a place of regret and recrimination. Tune in to this week's Temple Talk as Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven examine in depth the tragic demise of Korach. A reminder: This week's Temple Talk, as well as next week's Temple Talk broadcasts will each be one hour in length. Rabbi Richman is currently engaged in a speaking tour of the USA. Upon his return to Israel in early July, Temple Talk will return to its two hour format.

For details of Rabbi Richman's speaking engagements in the USA, please click here.

While Rabbi Richman is busy on his USA tour, we invite you to please take a moment to view a quick glance at just a few of the many ongoing pursuits of the Temple Institute, in our short promotional video entitled, "From the Heart of Jerusalem." Click here to view. Light to the Nations with Rabbi Richman will return next week with a special teaching on the upcoming month of Tammuz.

Inauguration of The New Workshop for Priestly Garments

On June 30th, at 5:00 PM, the Temple Institute will inaugurate the new workshop for the fitting and production of Priestly Garments. Among the first kohanim who will be present for measuring and fitting will be the internationally renowned Rabbi Shlomo (HaKohen) Riskin of Efrat. The public is invited to participate. The workshop is located on Rechov Ma'amadot Yisrael 3 in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. For more information, please click here. To learn more about the the Temple Institute's efforts to create 120 sets of garments for lay-priests, please click here.

"Not big enough for the both of us!" When a man, even a great man, remains humble and small in his own eyes, he will acknowledge that there is room in creation for both G-d, and Torah and himself. But when a man, even a wise and learned man, such as Korach, becomes great in his own eyes, he eliminates G-d and Torah from his world, leaving G-d little choice but to put him in his place. Click here to view Rabbi Richman's short teaching on parashat Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32). Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem, Yitzchak Reuven THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE PO Box 31876 Jerusalem, Israel 97500 www.templeinstitute.org