Does anyone have a davar Torah on parshat Korach?

Answer 1

Korach In this weeks parsha, Korach gathers 250 court leaders and challenges Moshe's leadership. In line with expectation, the dispute ended by the earth opening its mouth and swallowing all of the complainers and their possessions. Before we begin, let's first meet Korach, the centerpiece of this weeks parsha... First and foremost, Korach was Moshe Rabbeinu's cousin (their fathers were brothers). Secondly, Korach was extremely wealthy. The Gemara (Pesachim 119a) relates that Yosef hid 3 treasurers in Egypt--one of which was revealed to Korach. From that treasure he became so rich that it took 300 mules just to carry the keys of his treasure houses (even though they were made of light leather). Thirdly, the Bamidbar Rabbah (18;15) relates that Korach was Pharaoh's finance minister and thus had the keys to his treasures. So basically, Korach was on top of Forbes with a great job and yet he led a rebellion against his first cousin... How severe was the rebellion? The Gemara (Sanhedrin, 109a) relates that Korach and his congregation will have no share in the World to Come due to their rebellion. Additionally, Rashi (16;27) explains that an earthly court doesn't punish a criminal unless they are 12/13 (girls: 12, boys: 13), however, even infants died due to the rebellion. The Gemara (Bava Batra, 74a) relates a very interesting story. A guide once took Rabbah Bar Bar Chana to the place where the earth swallowed up Korach and his 250 followers. Rabbah explained that there were 2 cracks in the ground with smoke coming out. The guide then soaked wool in water, put it on the end of a spear, and put it inside one of the cracks...the stick got burned. Rabbah then explained that he was able to hear them saying "Moshe and his Torah are true, and we are liars." The guide then said that every 30 days they get sent here from hell and they say this. The question is: What caused Korach to do such a terrible act against his first cousin, Moshe? Rashi (16;1) explains that Korach was jealous because Moshe had appointed Elizaphan the prince instead of him. Therefore, Korach formed a rebellion against Moshe in attempt to gain the high status he felt he deserved (Korach thought: Amram was Kohath's oldest son, and his 2 sons, Moshe and Aaron, already have high positions. Therefore, since I'm the oldest son of Izhar, the second oldest son of Kohath, I'm "next in line"). We therefore see that the whole cause of the rebellion was jealousy... How severe is the character trait of jealousy?

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter (A.K.A. Chidushei Harim) comments that Korach was going to be appointed the prince of the entire tribe of Levi, but because he caused a rebellion over not being appointed the prince of the house of Kehat, he lost out on the even higher position as well. We therefore see the severity of jealousy...for through jealousy one could even lose that which he deserved. The sefer Orchot Tzadikim relates the following parable to show the severity of jealousy. There was once a man who was jealous of his neighbor for his wife and some of his possessions. One Friday he heard his neighbor had left on a business trip. That night, the jealous neighbor broke down the wall separating the 2 houses (thus breaking the 4th commandment of Shabbat). He then went in to the house and took his neighbors wife (thus breaking the 10th commandment of not being jealous of your friends possessions) and had relations with her (thus breaking the 7th commandment of adultery). After having relations, he then sought to steal some money, but the woman went up against him and so he killed her (thus transgressing the 6th commandment of killing). He then stole all the money (thus breaking the 8th commandment of stealing, as well as the 10th commandment of jealousy). After the incident, his parents came to rebuke him for what he had done, and out of anger he struck them (thus transgressing the 5th commandment of honoring your parents). Later on he was taken to court and testified falsely with witnesses (thus breaking the 9th commandment of not bearing false witnesses). After that people started approaching him regarding the matter and to every individual he swore falsely (thus breaking the 3rd commandment of not saying Hashem's name in vein). Out of frustration over the incident, he decided to join a new religion and began serving idols (thus transgressing the 2nd commandment of not serving other g-ds) and completely denied Hashem's existence (thus breaking the 1st commandment of serving Hashem). We see from this incident that through jealously once could come to transgress all of the 10 commandments. How exactly does jealousy form? The cause of jealousy, as in Korach's case, comes when one feels as though he's not receiving the proper amount of honor. If one were to truly be happy with his portion then he would never be jealous of others...(Robert Frank, a professor of Economics at Cornell University, performed a survey and found that the majority of Americans would rather earn less money, as long as they earn more than everyone else...So we see that our desire for money isn't to have as much as possible...Rather, our desire is to simply have more than others).

The sefer Orchot Tzadikim relates the following parable: A king once went up to 2 of his servants and told them that he would grant them any one of their wishes. However, the king said that whatever the first man asked, the second would receive double. The first servant thought of asking for a large sum of money. However, the servant thought to himself, were he to ask for a large sum of money, his friend would receive double the amount. Therefore, the servant instead asked the king to take out one of his eyes so that the other servant would lose both of his eyes! We see clearly from here the extent that man will go simply in order to possess more than his friend, and thus be able to receive honor. Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto (Mesilat Yesharim) writes that the desire for honor is stronger than any of the other desires in the world. If not for honor, Rabbi Luzzatto writes, all people would be content with whatever level of livelihood they have. We therefore see that jealousy comes as a result of one not feeling they are receiving the proper dose of honor. And how severe is jealousy and seeking honor? The Mishna (Pirkei Avos, 4;20) states: "Jealousy, lust and honor seeking remove a person from the world." Therefore, Korach died as a result of his jealousy and honor seeking. Jealousy forms when a person wants more than he has. As a result of ones jealousy, a person then begins to lack something in which everyone wants...Happiness. Jealousy eats away at ones happiness. Once a person becomes jealous of his friend, there's no limit to how far he'll go in order to overcome him. And even if he succeeds, this will only lead to more and more jealousy amongst his other friends when he realizes the areas in which he's lacking. Jealousy is truly never ending...As many battles as you win, there will always be more if you continue chasing after honor. Summary: Despite all the riches and a prominent job, Korach still challenged his first cousin, Moshe Rabbeinu, for his role of leadership because of jealousy. Due to his jealousy, Korach was swallowed up by the earth and lost his share in the World to Come. The character trait of jealousy is truly deadly, as it not only leads to death (Pirkei Avos, 4;20), but it puts a person in a state of depression, could cause one to break the whole torah, and even cause one to lose out on that which he really deserved. Jealousy could be never ending as it forms when one begins seeking honor. The things some people will do just out of jealousy is truly amazing and limitless. Korach and his 250 followers, all of which held prestigious positions among the nation, were all victims of this perilous character trait...