Families...

Torah Portion

Do Not Use Self
As A Block To Unity

the rebels and many who suffered
their tragic fate, Korach's own children
did not (in a later verse of Numbers,
we read, "The sons of Korach did not
die.") Indeed, they are recorded as
being among those who later served in
the Temple; and the sons of Korach
are listed as authors of several psalms.
he Torah portion of this
In the genealogy at the beginning of
Shabbat begins with the
the sedra (week's Torah portion), we
well-known story of an
read, "Korach, the son of Yitzhar, the
attempted revolt against
son of Kohat, the son of Levi," with
Moses and Aaron.
no mention of the fact that Levi is the
Korach, a member of the tribe of
son of Jacob/Israel. But when we read
Levi himself, and supported by Dathan
of Korach's descendants in First
and Aviram and others, open-
Chronicles, the family tree
ly criticizes the brothers' lead- .
includes, the son of
ership of the children of Israel
Korach, the son of Yitzhar,
in the wilderness. it is not the
the son of Kohat, the son of
first time that God's appoint-
Levi, the son of Israel."
ed and annointed leaders will
The rabbis seem to be
be questioned; nor on the
inferring from the texts that
surface does it seem to us,
Korach's cause was unwor-
upon first reading the text,
thy because he denies his
that Korach's complaint is
true ancestry. He ignores
misplaced.
the fact that he is descend-
R ABBI
Korach, in essence, says to
ed
from Jacob, that he is a
NO RMAN T.
Moses and Aaron, "Wait a
son
of Israel like all those
RO MAN
minute! Why do you raise
who
wandered in the
Spec ial to the
yourselves above all of us?
wilderness
(a detail that
Jewi sh News
Why do you and Aaron's
Moses and Aaron do not
sons have such special roles
assert). But in the case of
ro play in the service of the
his sons, however, we learn that they
Tabernacle? Didn't you just teach us
remembered who their true ancestor
(in Leviticus chapter 19) that we all are
was — the patriarch Jacob. They
holy and that God is among each and
chose to be worthy of his calling, to
every one of us?" Isn't this complaint a
participate in the eternal "wrestling
legitimate one? Why do Korach and
with God" rather than following the
his followers suffer such severe punish-
self-aggrandizing Korach. The memo-
ment: The earth opens up and swal-
ry of Jacob's trials, pains and blessings
lows them whole?
kept them steadfast in their loyalty.
The traditional commentaries in
These two interpretations, among
our literature respond to Korach,
many, give us critical insight into
Dathan and Aviram with several
the character of Korach and into our
meaningful lessons, not only for those
own Jewish and family lives: Let us
in the wilderness but for us as well.
always be respectful and patient
For we all are faced with challenges to
enough to sit down and discuss our
our authority or authenticity, to our
differences; and let us be worthy of
leadership or commitment.
our ancestry, never denying that we
Here are two insights to consider.
are all children of Israel. TI
First, the Midrash Tanchuma sees in
Korach and his partners the insincerity
of cause; for they refuse to negotiate or
discuss their complaint.
Secondly, our sages derive another
How do you deal with someone
lesson from the question of why Korach
who is only interested in griping
was punished so severely. Moses quickly
or complaining and not in true
understands that this was not just a
dialogue? Should everyone be
revolt against his leadership, but that the
given a "soapbox" from which to
future of the entire Jewish people was at
state his or her positions? In which
stake. Korach, Dathan and Aviram had
ways do people deny their her-
to be stopped because they were denying
itage? Can children or grandchil-
their past.
dren reclaim the honor of a family
Apparently, while there were those
name after others have cast it
of the Israelites who chose to follow
aside?
Norman T. Roman is rabbi of Temple
Kol Ami.
11a444- A6,20,61.
Zfst,exg, i . . ;;A:a

Shabbat Korach:
Numbers 16:1-18:32; I
Samuel 11:14-12:22

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