The following is a sample from the up and coming Breslov Chumash entitled: “Rebbe Nachman’s Torah.”
16:1 Korach, son of Yitzhar son of Levi, separated himself.
Haughtiness is Concomitant with Idolatry
Our Sages declare that Korach was a heretic. He was haughty, which is concomitant with idolatry (LM I, 10:9).
The Difference Between Aharon and Korach
Aharon was a Kohen, associated with chesed. As such, he corresponds to the spiritual reality called the “right side.” Korach, on the other hand, was a Levi, associated with gevurah. As such, he corresponds to the spiritual reality called the “left side.”
God’s decree, “Let there be light,” corresponds to the right side. “And it was light” corresponds to the left side.
“God then separated between light and darkness.” That refers to the difference between Aharon and Korach (LM I, 44).
A Person Must Strive to Develop the Nature That God Has Given Him
All strife is drawn from the strife of Korach against Aharon.
Korach wanted to be like Aharon. They were separate entities, each with his own unique qualities. But Korach rebelled against being who he was and thus made strife his way of being.
A person must be himself. He must create unity and peace between opposing sides within himself]. That mitigates Divine decrees (LM I, 46).
16:32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them.
Sinning Leads to a Feeling of Humiliation
The Talmud relates that every Rosh Chodesh Korach declares, “Moshe and his Torah are truth, and I and my followers are liars” (Bava Batra 74b).
Rosh Chodesh is the source of repentance, for on Rosh Chodesh God Himself “repents” for having diminished the size of the moon (see Chullin 60b).
Since Rosh Chodesh is a day of repentance, there is no Gehinnom. There remains, however, punishment on Rosh Chodesh in the form of the humiliation of confessing and regretting one’s sins (LM I, 10:9; see also below, Chapter 29).
17:23 Aharon’s staff, representing the Tribe of Levi, blossomed.
For Kindness to Blossom, It Must Be Paired with the Fear of God
Aharon is associated with chesed. For kindness to blossom and spread, it must have a vessel in which to be received. That vessel is the fear of God. The fear of God corresponds to the trait of Gevurah, which is associated with Levi (LM II, 4:4; also end).
18:19 A covenant of salt.
The Tzaddik is Compared to Salt
The tzaddik is compared to salt, which preserves meat. This is because the tzaddik guards the covenant, which preserves his flesh from sin (LM I, 4:10).
The Tzaddik Adds a Joyful Flavor to Our Lives
Just as salt is a condiment for foods, so too does the tzaddik add a joyful flavor to our lives, for his teachings help us person temper the bitterness that comes in life (LM I, 23:2).
2 comments
I can’t wait for this to be published! When is it coming out?
Bereishit is on the way from Israel.
We should have it in about a month B’Ezras HaShem.
For now you can get a taste from our new Pathways Newsletter.
Enjoy!
Yossi