KORAH

Daniel Benzimra, July 5, 2003, 6 Tammuz 5763

Shabbat Shalom and Good Morning to the Narayever Congregation, my parents, family and friends. J Today I will be talking to you about Korach, who lead a rebellion, against Moses and Aaron with the help of Dothan and Abiram and two hundred and fifty of their followers. At the beginning of the rebellion, Korach, Dothan, and Abiram say to Moses and Aaron, rav lakhem ki kol ha-edah kulam kedoshim uve- tokham hashem- umadua titnasu al khal hashem? "You take too much upon you, seeing that all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them, why then do you lift yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

I shall examine the views of three medieval commentators who have written on the matter of Korach's rebellion and a few reasons as to why the rebels were punished so severely. I would also like to offer up my points of view on the rebellion and the punishment given out.

The three medieval commentators are:

1. Rabbi. Abraham Ibn Ezra

2. Rabbi Moshe Ben Nahman otherwise known as Nachmanides or RAMBAN

3. Rabbi M. Miller

Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra Ibn Ezra views this rebellion as an "ugly political dispute" between cousins namely: - Moses, Aaron and Korach.

Ibn Ezra considered that the children of Israel believed that this was nothing less than nepotism, when Moses appointed his brother Aaron to be the head Cohen thus "benefiting his own clan". What really happened was that G-d instructed Moses to make Aaron and his family, Cohen. Ibn Ezra explains that Dothan and Abiram joined the rebellion because they felt Moses took away privileges from their clan, which was Reuben, and instead favoured the tribe of Joseph. Ibn Ezra concludes that Korach publicly accused Moses of robbing him of his First Born rights by favouring Aaron and his family.

I believe that Ibn Ezra's idea of the rebellion being an "ugly political dispute" is right. The leaders are like our politicians, who if elected have the right to give or take away privileges, rights and certain powers from people, and in this case from tribes. We expect our politicians to avoid nepotism, and get upset if they do practise it. However, Moses wasn't practising nepotism, his choice of Aaron was made by G-d. Therefore, Korach's rebellion was based on a misunderstanding.

Rabbi Moshe Nachmanides Nachmanides regards the timing of the rebellion to be significant.

The rebellion, he feels, started at the time when the spies came back from the Land of Israel, with their complaints about the harsh lifestyle there. Korach, he argues, seizes the opportunity to start picking a fight with Moses & Aaron (assuming the people will side with him), because of their frustration and discomfort of living in the desert.

Nachmanides continues by stating that Dothan and Abiram publicly asked Moses "is it not enough that you brought us from a land flowing with milk & honey to have us die in the wilderness"?

Nachmanides muses on the fact that Egypt, which was a place of Slavery, oppression and starvation was now being referred to as the land of milk & honey.

Nachmanides, I think has made a strong statement, about the argument between Dothan, Abiram, Moses and Aaron. A) Dothan and Abiram insult and humiliate the leaders of the children of Israel. B) They have made their impression on the people with this accusation. If there was a time for the children of Israel to choose to join the rebellion I would think it was now! Children of Israel are tired and frustrated with their wanderings in the desert. Why shouldn't they join rebellion against their leaders and go their own ways?

Rabbi M. Miller Rabbi Miller agrees with Torah scholar Nehama Leibowitz, who had said that Korach and his followers were, "-simply a band of malcontents, each harbouring personal grievances against authority……. united to overthrow Moses and Aaron." The Rabbis often cite Korach and his followers' rebellion as an important example of "unworthy controversy". In short, the root of this rebellion was self-interest.

Miller argues that Dothan and Abiram had no justifiable reasons for joining Korach's rebellion. Instead the two just did it out of 'sheer delight in mischief". Miller goes on to say that they enjoyed humiliating people of such importance; their motive was evil for it's own sake.

Rabbi Miller has made a strong impression on me. He has shown me a different side to Korach and his followers. Miller showed me that they were not just jealous people seeking revenge on their superiors, but that they were selfish, unruly and discontented horde of people who were trying to cause mischief and mayhem.

My Opinion I shall give my opinions, comments and views on the rebellion, and the punishment of Korach and his followers.

I believe that one of the main themes of this rebellion was jealousy. The jealousy of Korach and the jealousy of Dothan and Abiram. Korach was miffed because his first-born rights were not full filled and he and his tribe were not the "Cohenim." Dothan and Abiram were irritated because their leader was favouring another tribe, by giving them more privileges.

I believe that Korach was not aware that the duties, rights, and privileges of Cohen, were given to Aaron by G-D. And that Moses was instructed to do so. If he was, this whole situation could have been avoided.

Another main theme of this rebellion is of misunderstanding. As I said before, Korach was not aware that the powers of "Cohen" were give to Aaron by G-d. I also feel that Moses should take on a little responsibility. If he had told Korach, Dothan and Abiram and the two hundred- fifty followers that G-d chose Aaron instead of Korach then the rebellion may never have been started.

But then why were they punished so severely? It says in the torah that "The ground open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into the pit…"

I feel that the reason for such a harsh punishment was because that they went against their elders (which is rude), whose authority comes from G-d. So if you go against Moses and Aaron, you go against G-d. G-d probably felt that they were being selfish, for wanting more power, and that they were whining because they couldn't have for power.

Now, for some people hearing that the ground opened up to swallow so many people, people might think that that was a mass massacre. But really they were only punished for defying the will of the Lord who they should have great gratitude for the Lord has given them life; they instead rebel against the Lord because they couldn't bear not being able to be grander then their peers. So maybe this rebellion was not only out of jealousy but out of greed for power and wealth as well.

Before I conclude my D'var Torah I would like to leave you with a message to think about. Is power and wealth greater then your own life and the harmony of your people? Or is it better to be dead but know that you have made an impression on people to defy your elders and someone much much more powerful then you. Thank you very much for being here to listen and to watch me become a man in our Jewish society. Shabbat Shalom!