Timeless Torah

Korach the son of Yitzhar should have been a happy man. First, his ancestry was illustrious. He hailed from the mishpocha of Kehas, the most prominent family from the tribe of Levi. He was first cousin to Moshe and Aharon, the two most important individuals in the Israelite camp. He foresaw with Ruach Hakodesh (divine inspiration) that his descendants would include the famous prophet Samuel, as well as fourteen groups of Levites who would in the future prophesy.
Economically, he was amongst the wealthiest of all the Jews. Finally, he had the honor of being chosen as one of the select few to carry the Aron Kodesh, the Holy Ark which contained the two sets of Tablets.
So why did an individual blessed with so much envy others? Why did he not enjoy what he did possess, instead of pining for that which he did not? According to the Medrash, part of the blame rests squarely on Korach’s wife. She inflated his ego and repeatedly assured him that he was destined for even greater glory.
While this tale of greed may sound all too familiar, it may be instructive to examine the methods and arguments marshaled by Mrs. Korach that goaded her husband into an early grave. So instead of conceding that Korach did enjoy some pretty distinctive privileges, she argued that all of his so-called advantages were in fact cause for shame.
Let me share two examples of what I mean. First, Korach was a Levite. Being selected to serve in the Temple was a holy calling that required purification. As the Torah relates in an earlier reading that Moshe was commanded to, “Take the Levites...Sprinkle upon them water of purification and let them pass a razor over their entire flesh...”
This process helped transform the Levites from individuals with a sense of self into servants completely dedicated to G-d. Yet, irrespective of all the spiritual ramifications, one very obvious physical side-effect was that now Korach, along with his fellow Levi’im, were bald.
When Korach came home that day, instead of congratulating her husband on his change in status, his wife began to poke fun at his new look. “Ridiculous!” She said. “Moshe must surely hate you. Why else would he have disfigured you so?”
Similarly, when Korach was assigned the exalted position of Ark Bearer, Mrs. Korach retaliated. “Why did Moshe appoint his brother High Priest and leave you to carry the heavy Aron?”
Both scenarios require clarification: the first ceremony was designed to make one feel more holy and pure, so how did Korach’s wife convince him it was something to be embarrassed about? In the second instance, we know that the Ark bearing the Ten Commandments was weightless. In fact, it “carried its carriers” so that the people involved actually expended no energy. So, once again we ask, how did Korach’s wife make him feel that he had been given a difficult and arduous task?
Here we must lay the blame on Korach himself. Korach listened to his wife’s mockery of the induction ceremony because he in truth knew she was right; he did not feel any holier! Indeed, the opposite was true. And Korach did not marvel at the miraculous buoyancy of the Ark, because to him it truly felt heavy.
Why? Because the beauty or odiousness of any religious ceremony, as well as the ease or difficulty of any spiritual endeavor, depends on one’s attitude. If one believes in the Torah’s power, it carries you and makes you feel sublime. Conversely, if one sees his heritage as a shameful burden, it is weighty indeed.
So was Korach bald or beautiful? Was he to feel honored or despised? I guess that depends on how heavy you thought the Ark was?