The Sefer “Torah Gems” by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg states the following thought; “Now took Korach…”; that Korach was blessed with many positive attributes: fine lineage, wisdom, qualities worthy of a leader of B’nai Yisrael. “‘Now took Korach — he took himself.’ He did not wait until he was offered the leadership, but he sought to take it by force. That is why he is not worthy of it.” (Torah Gems, by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg, Parsha Korach, Volume 3, page 79.)
It seems important here to review what The Sefer L’lmod Ul’lamed (Rabbi Mordechai Katz) says on last week’s Parsha Shelach (page 138) regarding the qualities which make a true Torah leader.
He lists six major qualities expected of a Leader of Klal Yisrael:
1/ He must be a total believer in Hashem.
2/ He sets a personal example that others will respect and model themselves after.
3/ He has personal attributes of sincerity, affability and concern for others.
4/ He displays humility before Hashem and does not consider himself superior to his fellow man. He does not consider himself superior to the people he leads.
5/ He possesses firm and unwavering devotion to Hashem.
6/ If Hashem supremacy is challenged, he (the Leader) should react vigorously against challenging Hashem’s Laws.
The Sefer continues by quoting gemora Sanhedrin 7b which states; “…a Jewish leader should be strong and dynamic rather than weak and vacillating. But, at all times, the Jewish leader should not let his position make him haughty. He should remember that he is but dust and ashes and that in the end his bones will rest in the same soil as do those of all other men.”
Shem Mishmuel writes about Korach tht he seemed to resent that Moshe was the leader of B’nai Yisrael, that Aaron was the Kohen Gadol and that he was not the one appointed head of the Children of Kehath, his branch of the priestly family. Korach’s motivations were complex, the layers of discontent behind his abortive challenge to the leadership numerous as is discussed by the great commentators. (Shem Mishmuel on Parsha Korach, page 335)
Shem Mishmuel relates a thought on Korach from Rashi;
“Korach was an intelligent man. If so, why did he involve himself with this nonsense? His eyes deceived him, for he saw a chain of noble descent emerging from him, ending in Shmuel HaNavi [the great prophet], who was considered equal to Moshe and Aaron. He said, ‘On his [Shmuel’s] account, I will be saved.’ There were also to be twenty-four stations of his descendents who would prophesy with the Divine spirit … He said, ‘Is it possible that all of this greatness will emerge from me and I should be silent?’ Therefore, he joined [with the other rebels] and came to the opinion that when he heard from Moshe that all of them would perish save one … he mistakenly assumed that it referred to him. He failed to look carefully, for his sons did teshuva…” (Rashi, Bamidbar, Perech 16, posuk 7 as related in Shem Mishmuel on Parsha Korach, page 335)
It seems that in Korach’s case, he had basis for reasoning that his decendents, the generations of nevi’im who came before Shmuel would emanate from him and thus “it must be because he himself was a worthy and holy person.” (Shem Mishmuel on Parsha Korach, page 335)
Korach’s perception of history brought him to envision himself as “born to lead” and therefore, took issue with the leadership of Moshe and Aaron HaKohen. Thus, while Hashem and history look disappovingly at Korach’s attempt at a leadership grab, one might be able to understand what was behind Korach’s actions and possible rationale behind his false claims.
Today, however, as we look in retrospect at last August’s expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif and the 4 Shomron towns and stand against the possibility of a further planned expulsion by the regime of up to 10-fold the number of Jews who were displaced last summer, it is impossible to view any valid rationale for either last year’s expulsion or for what the regime is planning under whatever adjective it uses on any given day.
And what are the bogus rationales which they parade before us?
1/ Disengagement = Divorce. But we still bring in Arabs from “pa(sic)” administered areas to work in Israel. The regime still provides them with water, electricity, phone and cellphone service as well as tax transfers. We gave away the Gaza checkpoints for nothing enabling massive arms smuggling in and out between Gaza and “pa(sic)” administered areas of Yehuda and Shomron. This weaponry in the hands of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hisbullah, Tanzim, al-Aksa brigades and yes, even Fatah. And despite this alleged “divorce”, Israel yet again provides the “pa(sic)” with weapons, under whatever guise, weapons once again being turned upon the Jews as has been proven by testimony of Fatah operatives themselves.
The regime closes newly built roads to Jewish vehicular traffic forcing many to travel circuitous, out-of-the-way routes in getting to and from jobs or other destinations in and around Jerusalem.
2/ Demographics; This blog has referred extensively to the “demographics dud” where Olmert, and Sharon before him have continually peddled the same worn out and bogus “p.a.(sic)” demographics stats as Rabin and Peres before them. They continue cleaving to these “p.a.(sic)” stats as a rationale for “convergence” despite ironclad, irrefutable proof of gross overstatement in “p.a.(sic)” demographics as reported by the Zimmerman, Seid and Wise group.
What other rationale could there be for this regime’s actions which appear as nothing other than forced suicide being inflicting on B’nai Yisrael? When this blog asserts that the regime’s true aim is a forced separation or expulsion, a “disengagement” if you will, between Israelis and their Jewish roots, heritage and laws; can anyone give a reasonable, rational alternative explanation, in light of the above, of why “convergence”,
“consolidation”, “realignment”(or whatever Olmert chooses to call it on any given day) or the latest mutant
“Bilateral Expulsion” makes sense?
Thus while Korach’s arrogance and lust for leadership, wrong and invalid as it was, was based on self-interest but with an element of spiritual basis, a regime which acts irrationally and without purpose is without any basis or grounding in reality.
May it be in this year and beyond, that our brethren; the refugee families from Gush Katif and the Shomron (may they soon be restored to new homes and neighborhoods, Bati Knesset, Yeshivot in Gush Katif and the Shomron and only happiness and success for all time), as well as our dear brother, Jonathan Pollard (may he soon know freedom and long life in Eretz Yisrael) be central in our thoughts, prayers, chassadim and actions. May this abominable period of history called hitnatkut be as a bad dream.
May we be zocha in this coming year to take giant steps toward fulfilling Hashem’s blueprint of B’nai Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, “Yom Hashem V’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v’yameinu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Shabbos!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of the Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.