Dvar Torah for Parshat Korach

Based on Likutey MoHaran I, #282

The Midrash relates that at one point during the rebellion the sons of Korach were in a dilemma. They were sitting with their father when Moshe Rabbeinu appeared. They said to one another: “What shall we do? If we rise out of respect for Moshe Rabbeinu, we will, in effect, be showing disrespect for our father, and we are commanded to honor father and mother. If we do not rise, we will have transgressed the command to rise before a sage.” They decided to rise out of respect for Moshe. It was in this merit that they were saved, for at that moment thoughts of repentance stirred in their hearts. Regarding them King David said, ”My heart is astir with a good word”(Psalms 45:2).
(Yalkut Shimoni 752)

Lesson #282 in Likutey MoHaran is called Azamra, I will sing. This lesson is arguably the most basic teaching of Rebbe Nachman. The Rebbe taught us to “go with a Torah,” that is, to view and live every aspect of our life through the lens of a lesson in Likutey MoHaran; one or two months with the lesson, one or two months with lesson and so on. Azamra, he said, we should “go with” all the time.

One of the services in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) was the singing that accompanied the sacrifices. This singing was performed by members of the tribe of Levi (in Hebrew, Levyim). Part of the goal of this singing was to arouse those present to higher states of consciousness, affording them the opportunity to reach levels of ecstasy that approached prophecy. In fact, the root of the word levi means to escort or to accompany.

Rebbe Nachman notes that the Holy Zohar teaches (2:19a) that when Levi (the son of our Patriarch Jacob) was born, music and musical instruments came into the world. (Those who have a question on the Zohar from Genesis 4:21 will have to write me for the answer.) The Rebbe says that was part of our Matriarch Leah’s intention when, in Genesis 29:34, she said, “Now my husband will be attached to me”—now that there’s music in the world he will certainly escort me, because two people become attached to one another through music and song. This is why music is played at weddings (Likutey MoHaran I, #237).

In Azamra the Rebbe teaches us how to make music. One must look for the good points in every Jew, including—especially!—oneself. Upon finding one good point, one good note, one must immediately proceed to the next good point and then to the next. All these good notes add up to a melody that bring one to a point where he will say, “Azamra! I will sing!” (Instead of, “I will scream!” which is what our behavior and that of others’ often makes us want to do.) By composing such melodies to accompany people’s actions, by judging them favorably, we increase their, and our own, potential for doing more good, more mitzvot. A crucial point of the lesson is, that by judging a Jew favorably we influence the Heavenly Court to such an extent that we actually bring about a positive verdict for that person.

Korach was a Levite. He was, indeed, quite capable of bringing people together. The night before the showdown between him and Aharon HaKohein (Aaron the High Priest) Korach went around to all the tribes uniting people in his protest movement against Moshe Rabbeinu (our teacher). He did not do this by relating his own good points to the people, but rather by “negative campaigning,” by indicating Moshe Rabbeinu’s (alleged) bad points. (See Numbers 16:1, 13–14, 19, with Rashi.) This is quite a contrast to Aharon HaKohein’s behavior. He, too, went from person to person, but only to make them aware of their own and others’ good points. This is how he made peace between couples and friends who had fallings out with another, and how he encouraged individuals to reach for more spiritual growth (Avot 1:12, Rashi).

Korach’s sons faced a dilemma: Should they fulfill the mitzvah of honoring a Torah scholar if it meant impugning their father’s honor, or not? The very fact that they judged themselves on this matter and struggled with the question, rather than automatically siding with their father or ignoring the challenge, was their first good point. That they actually stood up for Moshe Rabbeinu was the second and the thought of repentance that they had, the third. Thus, when the moment of truth came for Korach and his followers, and their lives were hanging in the balance, the Heavenly Court decided in favor of Korach’s sons. A number of their songs are incorporated in Tehilim (Psalms 42, 44–49).

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!