"We can live here for
about the same as
what we were paying
in our condo."
Parshat Korach: Numbers 16:1-18:32;
Samuel 11:14-12:22.
H
anging in the back of my
closet is a beautiful tallit
that was hand-woven in
Ethiopia. This colorful prayer shawl
was purchased by my grandmother
several years ago when the renowned
"Mitzvah Man" Danny Siegel vis-
ited Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills.
The tallit is waiting in
my closet until my oldest
son becomes a bar mitzvah
and, God willing, my grand-
mother can present it to
him as a gift.
The tallit is a fascinating
garment. There are many
different styles and fash-
ions of the tallit that we see
being worn at synagogue
during prayer services, but
the most important component to the
tan are the tzitzit, the fringes that
hang from the four corners.
In Parshat Korach, Moses' cousin
Korach mounts a rebellion against him.
Korach argues that he has as much
right to lead the Israelites as Moses or
Aaron, who are in the same generation-
al line on the Levite family tree.
The tallit plays an interesting role
in this biblical story of mutiny. The
Korach narrative begins with the
words Vayikach Korach, which come
immediately following God's instruc-
tions regarding the laws of tzitzit, the
fringes with a blueish/purpleish cord
(a p'til techelet) that are commanded
to be attached to one's tallit.
Each four-cornered garment must
have four tzitziyot hanging from each
corner. Midrash Tanchuma notices the
words Vayikach Korach — "Korach
took" and imagines what Korach took
by associating that phrase to the sec-
tion preceding it.
In the midrash, Korach tries to
embarrass Moses by challenging him
with a difficult question. He says, "You
told us to put techelet on the tzitzit,
tell me if the tallit is entirely made
up of techelet, would such a tallit still
require four tzitzit?" Moses replies that
it would still require tzitzit.
Korach then responds with a chal-
lenge, questioning the fact that four
strings of techelet can allow you to
wear a tallit, but a garment made
entirely of techelet cannot be exempt-
ed from this restriction. Korach isn't
simply challenging Moses' authority,
but also mocking him, and, by exten-
sion, mocking God's Torah.
Whether Korach was correct or not
in challenging Moses' authority, he
was wrong for using a holy
garment for the purpose of
mocking the Israelite lead-
er. The tallit is a reminder
for us. It is used during
prayer as a sign of our rela-
tionship with God through
the commandments.
When we wear the tallit,
we should look down at its
fringes, the tzitzit, and be
reminded of God's love for
us and of God's gift of the
Torah. We should also wear it proudly
and let it serve as a reminder of how
Moses and the Israelites did not allow
Korach and his gang to overthrow
their leadership.
Each morning when we wrap our-
selves in our tallit let it serve to show
that Korach was defeated and that
the tallit should not be used for such
negativity.
The tallit that I wear on Shabbat has
an additional special meaning for me.
This white tallit was a gift from the
Jewish Theological Seminary upon my
ordination as a rabbi. Like any tallit,
it has stories to tell. It has significant
meaning because it reminds me of
my experience in rabbinical school.
It also brings to mind the many life-
cycle events when I was wrapped in its
embrace.
The tallit is a beautiful way for us
to wrap ourselves in God's embrace
and be reminded of God's love for us.
Korach's error was in using the tallit
to undermine Moses' authority and
publicly humiliate him. Let us use the
tallit for good. Let us wrap ourselves in
the tallit and give thanks for leadership
rather than trying to weaken it. Li
-Dan and
Nori Braude,
enjoying life at
Fox Run since
2003
For affordable retirement living, no place compares to
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Rabbi Jason Miller is the director of
Kosher Michigan, a local kosher certifica-
tion agency. He also serves as president of
Access Computer Technology. Follow him
on Twitter at @RabbiJason.
June 21 2012
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