Shalom Friends;<\/p>\n
This week, our Parshat HaShavua, Korach is being sponsored by Pinchas and P\u2019nina Klahr of Ramat Beit Shemesh and dedicated for good health, and nachat for P\u2019nina\u2019s mother Mrs. S. L. Weisenberg, and for good health and success in both physical and spiritual matters for their grandchildren, Matisyohu Natan and Michal and Pessia Tova and Yaakov, as well as for for the safety of the Chayalim, and for the good health and security and true peace for all of Am Yisrael. To the Klahr family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses. To the Klahr family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.<\/p>\n
You can celebrate a Simcha \u2014 a birth, a Bar\/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShavua.<\/p>\n
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.<\/p>\n
Best Regards,<\/p>\n
Moshe Burt Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/a> Our Parshat opens with Torah stating:<\/p>\n “Korach, son of Yitzhar, son of Kehat, son of Levi separated himself [Rabbi Dovid Feinstein renders “V’yikach Korach” as “And Korach took…” in his sefer “Kol Dodi” (page 226)], with Datan and Aviram, sons of Eliyav, and On, son of Pelet, the offspring of Reuven.” [Bamidbar, Perek 16, posuk 1 rendered to English in The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi Goldin provides a context on the opening posukim in his sefer, “Unlocking the Torah Text” (pages 143 and 145) :<\/p>\n Moshe and Aaron face their greatest personal challenge to date. Under the leadership of Korach and his colleagues, Datan, Aviram and On, two-hundred and fifty prominent members of the nation rise in rebellion against the authority of Moshe and Aaron.<\/p>\n At Moshe’s request, Hashem responds to this uprising with devastating power, punishing the perpetrators through a Divinely targeted earthquake and a Heaven-sent firestorm. [Rabbi Goldin summarizing Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 16, posukim 1 – 35]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi Hershel Reichman provides background on Korach in his Sefer, \u201cLiving the Chassidic Legacy \u2014 Lessons Based on Shem Mishmuel, Volume Two\u201d (pages 555 -556) :<\/p>\n According to the tradition of our Sages, Korach was a great man — a wealthy talmid chacham with great yichus, coming from the finest family of Shevet Levi, the same family [B’nei Kehat] as Moshe himself. He had prestigious job, carrying the Aron when then Jews traveled in the desert. According to Rashi, he even had Ru’ach HaKodesh, just short of prophecy. How could such a great Jew foment a rebellion against Moshe, the person chosen by Hashem to bring the Torah to the Jews? <\/p>\n Korach stated his arguments so strongly that he seems to have denied the very prophecy of Moshe… Korach and his followers seem to express significant elements of kefira, denial of the fundamental elements of the Torah. They denied the very truth of the Torah, and Moshe as the giver of the Torah…<\/p>\n This is very hard to understand. These people were eyewitnesses to the events involving Moshe — they experienced Yetziyot Mitzrayim, the splitting of the Reed Sea and saw the Egyptians drown. They themselves stood at Har Sinai and heard Hashem speak to Moshe telling him to convey the Ten Commandments to the people. How could they deny the truth of these events?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Midrash Says on Sefer Bamidbar, by Rabbi Moshe Weissman, discusses in depth how Korach became wealthy, in contrast to the other Levi’im who remained in Goshen learning Torah, and how the combination of both his wealth and family lineage affected his mindset (pages 201 – 203) : <\/p>\n Korach ben Yitzhar… was deeply offended that Moshe had not assigned him a prominent communal position. He thought, “My mazal [destiny] indicates that I was born for greatness. For what reason did my grandfather [Kehat] name my father Yitzhar [oil]? Grandfather must have foreseen that just as oil always flows to the surface, … Father would produce sons deserving of annointment with the sacred shemen hamishicha for positions of Kehuna or royalty. [“The Midrash Says” citing Tosfos HaRosh, Bamidbar Perek 18, posuk 13]<\/p>\n He foresaw with Ru’ach HaChodesh that his descendants would include Shmuel HaNavi, as well as fourteen groups of Levi’im who would prophesy with Ru’ach HaChodesh, Said Korach, I am destined to be the source of all of this greatness. How can it be that I myself should not achieve rank of special importance?<\/p>\n Tiferet Tzion explains that although Korach lacked refinement of character necessary for receiving prophecy, Ru’ach HaChodesh nevertheless rested upon him because he lived in an environment that was conducive to Ru’ach HaChodesh.<\/p>\n Foreknowledge of his great progeny strengthened his belief in the successful outcome of a revolt against Moshe. He did not realize that he would be destroyed, and that his surviving sons would bear these great descendants.<\/p>\n The other members of Shevet Levi lived in poverty, as Moshe’s command that every Jew take money and vessels from the Egyptians referred only to those Shevatim who had performed slave labor. The Levi’im had not labored for the Egyptians, but learned Torah. They received no recompense at Yetziot Mitzrayim and refrained from taking the spoils of Egypt at the Yam Suf because they attached no value to worldly possessions.<\/p>\n Only Korach was money-hungry. In Egypt, he had been a treasurer for Pharaoh [and] hoped that the Jews would remain in Egypt after the redemption, and he would then become the owner of the royal treasure. Hashem, Who leads each person in life along the path he wishes to be led, satisfied Korach’s craving for money by letting him discover a part of the treasure that Yosef had concealed in the royal coffers [Noun: money, wealth].<\/a> This discovery made Korach one of the wealthiest people who ever lived. However, since he misused his wealth to rebel against Torah, he was punished midda-keneged-midda [and] no trace of his fortune remained. It disappeared… with him in the ground. [“The Midrash Says” citing R’ Bachyei]<\/p>\n Korach would not have dared to oppose Moshe had it not been for his wife [who]… inflated her husband’s ego and repeatedly assured him that he was on a par with Moshe and Aaron. To his misfortune, Korach listened to his wife.<\/p>\n There were two extremely wealthy people, one Jew and one gentile who listened to their wives, were destroyed and lost their fortunes. The Jew was Korach, whose wife inspired him to rebel against Moshe. The gentile was Haman, who listened to his wife to erect a gallows… for Mordechai. Little did Haman realize that he was preparing the gallows for himself.<\/p>\n Korach’s pride was deeply wounded because Moshe had apparently ignored him when he selected the various dignitaries; he had not appointed Korach for any outstanding function in the community…. Instead, [Moshe] conferred [the office of Nasi over the family of Kehat] upon [Korach’s] younger cousin, Elitzafan ben Uziel. [“The Midrash Says” citing Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 3, posuk 30]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi Zelig Pliskin writes commentary on Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 16, posuk 3 in his Sefer, “Growth Through Torah” (pages 333 – 334) :<\/p>\n When someone speaks against others, realize that he could be just projecting his own faults.<\/p>\n The Kotzker Rebbe commented that people who quarrel with the righteous try to find complaints in ways that are the exact opposite of truth. Moshe was the humble of men, and Aaron’s relationship with others was always to pursue peace which takes much humility. Nevertheless, this did not stop Korach and his followers from claiming that Moshe and Aaron were acting arrogantly and were taking too much power for themselves. (Rabbi Pliskin cited from Maayanah Shel Torah)<\/p>\n This is an important lesson in our being careful not to believe loshen hora. Some people have the attitude that if someone is critical of another person, what is said must have at least some truth to it. Not so! People can have the audacity to find fault with others even though the person excels in the exact traits being referred to [by his detractor in criticizing him]. Here, the motive of Korach was personal envy and he was projecting his own drive for power unto Moshe. <\/p>\n Remember that the Sages say that when a person finds fault with others, he frequently is just mentioning his own faults which he can wrongly assume someone else has.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi Pliskin adds, citing Rashi (ibid, page 332) :<\/p>\n Rashi explains that the key reason for Korach’s rebellion against Moshe was that he was envious of another relative who received honor while he didn’t.<\/p>\n Envy is destructive, ….When one focuses on the success of another person and feel pain because of it, one is likely to do things that are highly counterproductive. Envy is one of the three things that totally destroy a person. (Rabbi Pliskin citing Pirkei Avos 4:28) The downfall of Korach was because of this trait. Not only did he not get what he wanted, but he lost everything that he had. The ultimate that anyone can have in this world is happiness. When one masters this trait by focusing on those things conducive to happiness, one need never envy another person.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, in his Sefer, “Unlocking the Torah Text,” Sefer Bamidbar, recounts Moshe’s reaction to the rebellion led by Korach, Datan, Aviram and two-hundred and fifty prominent members of the nation with their fire-pans (page 160) :<\/p>\n …After attempting to reason with the rebels and after receiving instructions from Hashem to separate the onlookers from Korach’s camp, Moshe proclaims to the watching nation:<\/p>\n “With this you shall know that Hashem sent me to perform all of these deeds; that it was not from my heart. If these [the rebels] die like all men and the destiny of all men is appointed for them, Hashem has not sent me. But if Hashem will create a new phenomenon, and the ground will open its mouth and swallow them up with all that is theirs, and they will descend alive into the pit. then you will know that these men provoked Hashem,” [Rabbi Goldin rendering to English Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 16, posukim 28 – 30]\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Torah recounts: <\/p>\n “When he [Moshe] finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them [Korach, Datan, Aviram] split open and swallowed them and their households, and all the people who were with Korach, and the entire wealth…. the earth covered them over and they were lost from among the nation. All Yisrael that was around them fled at their sound, for they said, ‘Lest the earth swallow us!'”<\/p>\n “A flame came forth from Hashem and consumed the two-hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.” [Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 16, posukim 31 – 35 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n So, here we can see that, in the past and in the present, controversies not for the sake of Shemayim, but within “the congregation” against a prevailing government, and against Torah jeopardize the unity and security of Am Yisrael. As this author has cited numerous times in the past, our worst enemy arises from within. This internal divisiveness fuels the intentions of our enemies.<\/p>\n Just as Korach and his rebellion was quashed by the Yad Hashem, we have seen contemporary rebellions borne of arrogance, envy, hunger for power, such as abandonment of South Lebanon in the dead of night in 2000 (leaving a void filled by Hezbollah) or the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif in 2005 (leaving Hamas to fill the void), both of which laid the seeds of 7 October and have done harm to the unity and security of Am Yisrael and who, as a result have suffered either loss of power and prestige, serious illness or fatality as a result. <\/p>\n Torah records:<\/p>\n “Everything that is separated from the sanctities that the B’nei Yisrael raise up to Hashem have I given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an eternal portion; it is an eternal salt-like covenant before Hashem, for you and your offspring with you.” (Perek 18, posuk 19 rendered to English in The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Rabbi David Feinstein, z”l cites Rashi who notes on the words “eternal salt-like covenant” in his Sefer “Kol Dodi” (page 229) :<\/p>\n Rashi says that salt never rots, and even acts as a preservative for many other things, so this Covenant will stay fresh and preserve Aaron’s dynasty forever.<\/p>\n This has a very powerful implication: Even if some Kohanim go astray and pollute their special holiness, Hashem promises that in every generation there will always be some who remain true to the Covenant. Thus, just as salt preserves food and does not allow it to spoil, so the covenant will preserve Aaron’s Priestly family and ensure that its holiness is preserved in every generation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This author would add that, not withstanding those of the Am who sprout controversies and go astray, this Covenant ensures that the Kedusha of Am Yisrael is preserved always, B’Ezrat Hashem.<\/p>\n May our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators, Iran and the entire terror cabal, B’Yad Hashem, and become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.”<\/p>\n May we see, from here on, that border guard personnel at all points of possible danger are listened to and treated with respect and dignity. May we see, with Operation Roaring Lions — the joint action by our Chayalim and the United States against the Mullahs of what has been the Islamic Caliphate dictatorship controlling Iran, that Islam and its barbarous terrorist tentacles of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, as well as Qatar, Turkey, the Houthies of Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, Afganistan, possibly Egypt, and all who seek war against the Jews be totally eradicated, both in Israel’s neighborhood, as well as internationally, B’Ezrat Hashem. May we see a government of Israel secure in it\u2019s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B\u2019Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Ezrat Hashem.<\/p>\n May we, the B\u2019nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren \u2014 the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole \u2014 be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem \u2014 as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel,<\/a> the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman<\/a> as well as the recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul<\/a> and Hadar Goldin<\/a> from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V\u2019Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V\u2019Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel\u2019s and Judaism\u2019s destruction and eradication. May we fulfill Hashem\u2019s blueprint of B\u2019nei Yisrael as a Unique people \u2014 an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with \u201cthe nations\u201d and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge\u2019ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; \u201cKi Karov Yom Hashem Al\u2019Kol HaGoyim\u201d, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b\u2019yamainu \u2014 speedily, in our time\u201d, \u2014 Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!<\/p>\n Good Shabbos and Chodesh Tov!
\nolehchadash@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
\n*********************************<\/p>\n
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014
\nMoshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network.<\/strong><\/a> He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.<\/p>\n