Dvar Torah for Parshat Korach

Based on Likuty Halakhot, Hilkhot Devarim HaYotzim min HaChai 4:49-50

Well, we all know that one of the main lessons we can learn from the parsha and person of Korach is that machloket (dissension, strife)is a terrible thing and should be avoided like the plague. It would also be instructive if we looked at some of what motivated Korach to start this controversy.

Rashi (Numbers 16:7) writes:

"Why did Korach rebel against Moshe? Korach was jealous of his cousin Elitzafan (son of Uziel) who Moshe had appointed (by Divine fiat) to be the leader of the Levitical clan of Kehat. Korach reasoned, 'Father was one of four brothers...Amram was the eldest, so his two sons [Moshe and Aharon] took the most important positions. Who should take the next position? Shouldn't it be I? I am the son of Yitzhar, the second oldest! And [Moshe] appointed a descendant of the youngest brother?! I am going to protest and prevent it!"

Korach was not only insulted (doubly so - not only was he not appointed, but someone from the youngest family was!), but jealous, as well.

Do you remember a time in your foolish youth, when you went shopping for clothing (or shoes) that you had seen someone else wearing? You wanted to look as fancy or as attractive as that other person. So you went to the store and asked to be shown the item. The salesperson brought it out and lo and behold! It wasn't your size. Too small. No matter how hard you tried to squeeze into it, it just didn't fit. You might have felt disappointment, frustration and jealousy. "It's just not fair!" What you didn't known then was that no two people are alike.

It's not only in clothing sizes, but in yetzer haras (evil inclinations/urges) as well. Some are bigger than others. Some are stronger for one "fault" than for another. For example, one person may be very careful not to speak slander, but she's a kleptomaniac. Someone else wouldn't steal a penny, but is incredibly lazy! One person will do you any a favor you ask, but is just not that interested in learning Torah.

Since each person's spiritual makeup is different how can we be jealous of someone else? Her status in the community is greater? He plays a more prominent role? She's written a best seller and you haven't? These things prove nothing. They're just wearing "clothing" that "fits" them - and you are wearing clothing that fits you, and it may just be a bigger size.

Of course, you might ask, "Well I know what he knows. I've done the mitzvot he has. I've even done some "extra" mitzvah that is supposed to bestow upon me an extra measure of holiness. Why hasn't it happened? Why haven't I achieved what he has?" Reb Noson answers: No good is ever lost, not even a desire to do good. Who knows what God has done with the good you have performed? Perhaps He has used it for a much higher purpose than the one you had in mind....Don't be discouraged....Korach was on a very high spiritual plane and was in a position to rise to an extremely exalted level. He was on such a level that the the position of Eliztafan ben Uziel was beneath him!

Getting back to our examples of how a person may do good in one area, but nevertheless struggle in another, let us consider a person who prays fervently, but is unable to overcome his curiosity for inappropriate web sites. This man may wear tzitzit (which helps to keep his sexual urge in check) and yet still succumbs. Should he therefore stop wearing them? Reb Noson writes: On the contrary! He needs it more than most. Perhaps his wearing tzitzit today and tomorrow and the next day and the next may combine to give him the strength to resist. Perhaps his mizvah of tzitzit will combine with some other mitzvah and then he will finally give up his improper behavior.

The strand connecting these cases, namely, Korach's succumbing to jealousy and our confusion about success and failure in regards to matters spiritual, material or personal, is that we don't know. We do not have all the relevant information at hand to reconcile the contradictions that we experience. We do not have to reconcile them. Our share in tikun olam (fixing Creation) is to do the mitzvot we can. The reconciliation of what we cannot understand is God's share in tikun olam.

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!

(Many thanks to Moshe Mykoff for tracking down the sources.)