JUNE 30 • 2022 | 53
SPIRIT
Happy in a World
Tailored for Me
T
his week’s Torah por-
tion is named for a
man who was known
to be the wealthiest Jew of his
time. Being a Levite, he also
occupied a position of
spiritual prominence
within the Jewish
community. Yet he
was not satisfied with
that. We read of how
he convinced many of
his Jewish brethren to
challenge the leader-
ship of Moses and the
priesthood of Aaron.
“The entire commu-
nity is holy, and God is
among them,
” Korach
complains, “so why do
Moses and Aaron feel
they can exalt themselves over
the congregation of God?”
Doesn’t that sound honor-
able? After all, all Jews have
a spark of God within them.
How then can distinctions be
drawn between Jews? Let us
all stand as one without sepa-
ration or distinction.
In truth, though, Korach
was far from being a “man of
the people.
” He was simply
resentful that Aaron, and
not he, was granted the high
priesthood.
In response to Korach,
Moses says: “It is too much for
you, offspring of Levi.
”
What was Moses telling
Korach? He was saying “Why
can’t you recognize the beauty
and uniqueness of the gifts
you do have? As a Levite, you
are a keeper of the sanctuary.
You are a respected dignitary.
You have so much going for
you. How could you possibly
be discontent? Why must you
seek the priesthood when
God clearly gave that to some-
body else?
The Mishnah teaches that
the reason God created man
as a single unit rather than
as an entire species (as
He did with the animal
kingdom) is to show
us that one man equals
an entire world. Every
person has their unique
contribution. We all have
a mission to enhance
and perfect our world —
the circumstances God
placed us in.
It’s useless to fantasize,
“If only I was born into
a different environment.
”
When one lives with a
sense of divine purpose,
one accepts that whatever
comes their way is orchestrat-
ed by God. It’s within these
conditions that we are called
upon to serve our Creator and
fulfill our very distinctive mis-
sion and purpose.
“Who is rich?” say the
sages. “He who is happy with
his lot.
”
The Chassidic Rebbe, Rabbi
Zushe of Anipoli, once said,
“If I were offered a deal to
trade places with Abraham, so
that he would be Zushe and I
would be Abraham, I would
not take it. For although
I would benefit by being
Abraham, what gain would
there be for God? He would
still have one Abraham and
one Zushe.
”
It’s not about us; it’s about
what role we play in God’s
master plan.
Rabbi Bentzion Geisinsky lives in
Bloomfield Hills, where he co-directs
Chabad of Bingham Farms with his
wife, Moussia.
TORAH PORTION
Rabbi Bentzi
Geisinsky
Parshat
Korach:
Numbers 16:1-
18:32;
I Samuel
11:14-12:22.
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