Articles with the tag: korach
Utopia: Is the Messianic World Worth It?”
After all is said and done, there are basically two things that can be said about our world. Either it’s a hotchpotch of events going nowhere. Or else there’s a plan.
Judaism embraced the latter option. Our mission: convince the rest of the world. The rest is commentary.
Maimonides: (In introduction to Perek HaChelek) enumerates the thirteen basic principles of the Jewish faith. The final two principles deal with the era of Moshiach.
What is a “basic principle” in Judaism? Perhaps that in order to qualify as a “believing Jew” one must accept the truth of these thirteen precepts. Rambam himself writes NO! In the eighth principle: “... This entire Torah is from the mouth of the Almighty….there is no…
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The Sign of a Servant (17:23)
The rebellion that challenged Moses’ leadership comprised a variety of factions. Korach, prime mover of the uprising, was aggrieved that Moses had not appointed him as high priest. Members of the tribe of Reuben, descendants of Jacob’s eldest, believed they too were entitled to leadership positions. The 250 other rebels, firstborn themselves, were still not reconciled to the fact that after the sin of the golden calf, the role of special service was taken away from them.
Each group had grounds for feeling that they had been passed over. The irony of their challenge was unmistakable. They posed as egalitarians. “All the community are holy. . .Why then do you raise yourself above the L-rd’s congregation?” What they said is…
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Flowers and Buds (17:23)
A showdown was brewing as the clock struck high noon at the Sinai sanctuary. Once-and-for-all, G-d had decided to show those doubting cynics that He alone had chosen the High Priest. In truth, the aspersions cast on Brother Aaron were nothing more than a smokescreen to denounce the authority of Moses. But if sudden earthquakes and a spiritual fire that burnt out people’s insides had failed to quell the murmuring masses, G-d could be expected to pull out from His million gallon hat a spectacle that would convince all.
“Take from them…twelve staffs…You shall lay them in the Tent of the Meeting…The man whom I shall choose, his staff will blossom…The next day…the staff of Aaron…had blossomed. It brought forth…
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Today’s “sons of Korach” (16:33)
Moses had experienced them all; from malcontents and insurrectionists, to those who had attacked him personally and those who had opposed his claim of a Direct Divine Instruction Line. Yet even amidst a generation of antagonists and adversaries, the rebellion of Korach was unique. It, and it alone, captured the imagination and backing of much of the leadership of that time. So unlike the other revolutions that were instigated by the riffraff and spread chiefly among the masses, this insurgency was fueled by the men of rank.
Perhaps that explains why Korach, more than any other opponent had to disappear from the scene completely. Other complaints were caused primarily from the outside; lack of food, water, fearful giants, etc. Once…
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Three Rebellions (16:30)
Even those who believe in evolution to explain the progression and emergence of the world’s natural species don’t accept this theory in regards to societal development. As any student of history will tell you, it is revolution rather than evolution that has altered the course of humanity. Judaism, more than most movements, has withstood those who would rebel and usurp the accepted tradition. Nonetheless, even we have not been impervious to those who would try. In fact, in certain instances, insurgency, although not welcomed, has been viewed as justifiable.
These last three weeks of Biblical readings offer the serious student an opportunity to analyze the Torah’s perspective on revolution. In the first of these sections (Biblical portion of B’ha-aloscha), the…
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How Heavy Was the Holy Ark? (16:7)
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…
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The Blind Korach (16:5)
Love is blind. But then, so is hate. Indeed, any emotion allowed to run amok distorts one’s perspective. Korach, the brilliant and wealthy cousin of Moses who led a popular rebellion challenging the accepted leadership, unfortunately proved this only too well. Simply put, ego trumps principle.
Nonetheless, power hungry Korach was not stupid. Even a blind man knows you do not contest Moses alone. You bring backup. So the smooth talking demagogue riled up 250 prominent leaders to join the revolt and question the process of how the priestly positions were arrived at.
But Moses was already an old hand in dealing with troublemakers. So he gave them an offer they could refuse, hoping they would back off gracefully. All…
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Logic’s Limits (16:3)
Even Moses, the first and most powerful Jewish leader of any period in Jewish history, was not immune. No matter how righteous, holy, and dedicated, there will always be someone to complain. The someone in this case was Moses’ own cousin, Korach, who along with 250 men of rank led a revolt against the establishment.
While his true motivation was jealousy, Korach carefully camouflaged his envy under his concern for the masses. Since all Jews are holy, he argued, why should Moses and Aaron enjoy privileged status? According to the Midrash, Korach even provided a legal brief to lend credibility to his point of view.
The Bible requires every four cornered garment to have tassels (tzitzit) and a, “Thread of…
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