Korach

Hi,

This week's portion is Korach.

Last week we read of the Spies whom the Jews sent into Israel. Those spies returned with a report attempting to convince the Jews to stay out of Israel. Gd punished the Jews for listening to the spies, sentencing them to die in the desert.

This week we get a destructive follow-up: Korach, a Levite who felt he had been snubbed when leadership positions were handed out, thought he saw his chance to strike at Moshe and Aharon. He appealed to other Jews to rebel against Moshe, arguing that Moshe had arrogated power for himself, and had instituted a variety of laws intended to create an atmosphere of obedience and to impoverish and degrade the nation. He also argued that others, besides the Kohanim, should be allowed to bring incense in the Temple; Korach assembled a group of 250 who felt they should have been allowed to bring the incense.

Moshe responded by challenging Korach’s crew to a duel of sorts. He ordered Aharon to bring incense, and he ordered Korach's crew to bring incense, to show that Gd wanted Aharon's incense - Gd would punish whoever brought an unwanted offering of incense. Moshe then turned to Gd and asked that Gd create a definitive sign in punishing Korach, so that everyone would know that the punishment and justice were Divine in origin, and not achieved through some human means. Gd responded by opening the earth to swallow Korach and his belongings. Only Korach’s sons survived, as they repented at the last moment.

A fire then consumed Korach’s backers who had tried to bring incense in the Temple.

This, of course, was not the end. Now that the Jews had seen that Moshe was backed by Gd, they attacked Moshe for inciting Gd to kill his opposition. In response, Gd sent a plague among them. Moshe was horrified, and he made use of a secret which he had learned years before - that incense would stop Divine wrath. He told Aharon to bring an offering of incense, which Aharon then did, halting the plague.

To show that Gd is not only a Gd of punishment, and that one would not die automatically upon coming close to the Temple, Gd instructed Moshe to collect a staff from each tribe, as well as one from Aharon. These staffs were left in the Tent of Gathering overnight, and the next day they found that Aharon’s staff had brought forth flowers, buds and almonds, signifying the life present in the Temple and in those who served it.

The tribe of Levi was then charged with protection of the Temple, to prevent the death of any who might accidentally enter where he did not belong.

The portion concludes by running down a list of tithes which were given to the tribe of Levi and specifically to the Kohanim, who had now been shown to have been selected by Divine decision.

Have a great day,
Mordechai