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Community
Torah Portion
Differences Of Opinion
Strengthen A People
Aaron are vindicated.
Centuries later, the sages who ana-
lyzed the story realized that the issue
it presented was not simple.
The sages made a distinction in the
fifth chapter of Pirke Avot the Ethics
of the Fathers. They said, "Every con-
troversy which is in the name of heav-
he Torah portion centers
en is destined to endure and that
around the story of a great
mutiny led by a man called which is not in the name of heaven is
not destined to endure. Which is the
Korah, from the tribe of
controversy in the name of heaven?
Levi who was jealous of the authority
That
is the controversy of Hillel and
to
wrest
the
of Moses and attempted -
leadership of the people from his • Shammi. And that which is not in the
name of heaven? That is the
hands.
controversy of Korach and
In a word, Korach was a
his group. The rabbis left us
demagogue; and dema-
clues and not answers. They
gogues in ancient and in
left us suggestions, but not
modern times proceed by
full explanations. I submit •
finding pretexts that allow
this interpretation.
them to incite the people.
Arguments in the name of
The rabbis embellished the
heaven are characterized by
. story of Korach and they
two essential attitudes. In
described some of the tech-
the first place, one finds a
nique of persuasion and
propaganda that he used on
RABBI IRWIN sincerity of purpose on both
sides not to gain a victory,
behalf of his nefarious cause,
GRO NER
not to win power or pres-
as they put words in his
Specia 1 to the
tige, but to establish truth
mouth.
Jewish News,
and fairness. The welfare of
He sought to make Moses
all is the primary considera-
look foolish and he posed
tion.
certain kinds of questions to him in
Secondly, participants in conflict,
the presence of a great audience of
in spite of their profound disagree-
the Hebrew people. He challenged
ment are keenly aware of the things
Moses, "If a house is filled with
that
unite them. This basic affirma-
scrolls and holy writings and sacred
tion
of unity transcends differences in
documents, does it require a mez-
thought and outlook and keeps both
zuza?" Moses said, "Yes, this is the
groups continuously conscious of the
law." Korach sneers at him in the -
fact that although paths differ, the
presence of the populace and
final goals are the same.
declares, If the entire presence of the
Korach, in his rebellion against
scroll of the Torah isn't sufficient to
Moses, was not concerned with the
fulfill the requirements of the law,
survival of the people. In order to
then how do a few verses inside a
achieve his ambition, he was prepared
mezzuza make a house suitable for
to allow a fatal schism to develop.
the dwelling of Jews?"
Korach wanted power, even at the
Korach was clever and provocative
expense of the unity of Israel. He
and he was able to .gather the people
rejected the spiritual values of the
together and demonstrate (at least so
Torah.
he thought), the inadequacies of
The controversy between Hillel
Moses amid the seeming inconsisten-
and
Shammai, on the other hand,
cy of the Torah. Korach turns to the
was
that between two leaders who
people and says, "You are all holy.
Judaism
first and themselves sec-
put
You are all a people of sanctity. God
ond and each was convinced of the
called you to be the bearers of his
truth of his position. Judaism was
law. You carry a mantle of greatness.
greatly enriched by the intellectual
Here is Moses. He became a leader.
warfare carried on by the two schol-
Aaron became a leader. You are wor-
ars and their schools. The unity of
thy of leaders no less than they."
the Jewish people was never-at risk,
In the biblical story, Korach's
but the cause of learning was
revolt leads to a state of anarchy and
advanced.
the complete and overwhelming vin-
Today, however, for many reasons,
dication of Moses is necessary. The
we tend to cast a distrustful eye upon
rebels are destroyed. Moses and
controversy. The very term implies
Irwin Groner is senior rabbi of
unpleasantness, dissension and injury.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
We feel that controversy is dangerous.
Shabbat Korach:
Numbers 16:1-18:22;
I Samuel 11:14-12:22.
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