Parashas Korach

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Korach . As with other Parshas, this Parsha also begins with a " Va " - " And , " showing that there is a link between this Parsha and the previous Parsha . That link is Tzitzis , spoken of in the previous Parsha . It was about Tzitzis , that became Korach's final straw .
Korach was a cousin of Moshe and Aharon , and thus a Levite too . But he wanted to be Kohein Gadol and thus challenged Aharon's position as Kohein Gadol accusing Moshe of Nepotism, making out he was favouring his closest family , over others . But who was this Korach ? As I mentioned , he was also a Levite , and thus already held a position of very holy dignity, to do with Avodah near the Ark , but that wasn't enough as he wanted a more outward to the people showing position .Avodah for the Ark is such a holy thing , but his soul was not on a level to appreciate that .
In Mitzrayim , he had personally engraced himself to Pharaoh and thus was Pharaoh's treasurer . Korach had managed to find the hidden valuables that Yosef had saved , and thus was Korach , one of the wealthiest men who ever lived . His wife to , like him , was a social climber , both looking to climb higher physically in status .
She was constantly at him that he should get more status and both constantly down talked Moshe , that Korach should be given a higher position . Korach also foresaw that his descendants would hold high positions and he even did permutations with his and his Father's name , to make words that showed they would come to higher state . Korach , in fore-seeing his progeny would be in a high position , was constantly feeling that he deserved more than the work he did. He wasn't wrong about his progeny , as his sons did not agree with what their Father had done and chose to go the way of the Right Law ( even writing a few Psalms ) , for when Moshe visited , they would stand in his honor . Also , the great holy prophet Shmuel Samuel descended from him . This is one of the main reasons that an excerpt from the Prophet Shmuel is read as the Haftorah for this Shabbos Sedra ( 1 Samuel 11:14 - 12:22 ) . Also it is chosen as Samuel was upset that the people wanted a physical king like other nations , for we Jews are different , as HaShem Is our Only King - similar to the Sedra of Korach , where Korach should have realized that leading the Jewish people , needs to be a Spiritual position , not a Physical climb to power .
Korach and his wife were very angry on the day Korach had come home after the Inauguration after being waved by Aharon and Korach having his head shorn . Both Korach abd his wife looked to status and both wanted higher prestige , accusing Moshe of choosing Aharon , only because Aharon was Moshe's brother. How untrue , as It Was HaShem Who Chose Aharon as Kohein Gadol .
When Moshe ( the link to the previous Parsha ) taught about HaShem's Commandment of Tzitzis , that was for Korach the last straw , for Korach accused Moshe of making up the Laws himself, a complete blasphemy of HaShem . In fact , when Korach came with his 250 followers , all leaders and high position people in the community , many from the tribe of Reuvein , including Dasan and Aviram ,' Korach made sure to mock the Laws of Tzitzis , by them all coming in coloured Tztitzis garments and fringes and mocking Moshe asking him if a garment has been coloured like the strings , does it still need Techeilis.
Korach had gone around to the Tribes to get support , and managed to get 250 men of renown behind him , yet , as we learn in Pirkei Avos , even Korach and his company didn't agree among themselves .
Korach was a man of strife and Machlokes . We see this even in his name , for the name " Korach " has the root ' Kerach ,' which refers to hair on his head being bald in the middle and separated on the sides , so even his hair was with strife .
Seeing that he was near the tribe of Reuvein , he got most of his supporters from their , playing on their feelings of having the firstborn right taken away in the time of Yaakov . With them joined Dasan and Aviram ( brother in laws to each other - Dasan and Aviram , where Dasan was the one Moshe had saved from the taskmaster in Egypt and these two being the two who Moshe had told the next day in Egypt to stop arguing) .
Another man called " On " is also mentioned , but he was the only one who didn't perish when HaShem Punished this bad company . " On " had planned to join Korach's company , but on the day they were to present the Ketores in front of Moshe , " On's "wife and daughter , seeing his error , gave him something in his drink to sleep and both sat at the entrance to their tent with their hair uncovered , so when Korach's followers came to call " On , " and saw his wife and daughter with their hair uncovered , for Tznius reasons , the followers of Korach were forced to return to Korach without " On " , and so " On's " life was saved . For " On " didn't want to listen to his wife when she told him not to go , yet realized afterwards how right she was.When the Earth opened up to swallow Korach , " On , " lying on his bed , was also pulled towards it , yet she held on to the edge of his bed and prayed to HaShem that her husband did not then join in with the company of Korach at the end and his life was saved . He regretted and mourned his wrong decision to join in , in the first place and thus did he have the name " On , " which is like an ' Onein , ' - ' a Mourner . ' His wife told him to go and apologize to Moshe but he was too embarrassed and humble Moshe came to him and asked HaShem To Forgive On . Such is the difference of a Holy Good Wife like " On's " wife , who saved her husband and an unholy bad wife like Korach's wife , who pushed him further to destruction .
So Korach and Dasan and Aviram and the 250 men came wearing coloured Tzitzis with strings all of the same colour as the Techeilis were supposed to be and challenged Moshe and Aharon . Moshe defended his brother , whose position , Korach sought . Korach dared to accuse Moshe of choosing his own brother , thus Korach spurned HaShem and HaShem's Choice and Truth . Korach also accused Moshe of making up his own laws , thus spurning HaShem's Laws and Truth .Korach asl accused Aharon of arrogantly taking the position of Kohein Gadol and Moshe defended his brother, reminding Korach and his company and the entire congregation who had followed to listen , that Aharon had stepped back , not wanting at all the position , not feeling himself worthy and also that Aharon had lost his two sons in this , and thus did not choose himself to take anything . Korach continued and Moshe warned him to stop . Korach told Moshe that he wanted to appoint firstbornes in all the twelve tribes , who would , once a month from now on do the avodah and that they would go their own way and not take orders from Moshe . Moshe responded by telling then that the following day , if they did not trust HaShem and him , that they must each bring their fire-pan and offer Ketores and if they are right , would survive , but if not , would die . Korach never thought he wouldn't be chosen and so they all went along with him and agreed . Korach also disputed the position of the Levites and wanted to reinstate the firstborns .Dasan and Aviram continued to mock Moshe and left in a huff . Moshe sent for them but they refused to come . Moshe , though he was the leader , still humbled himself and went himself to their tent to try change their mind , knowing what would happen, but they never even came out to talk to him , but mocked him and chased him away .Oh Humble beloved Moshe .
Korach and his company brought their 250 fire-pans , put fire and incense and came arrogantly to the Tent of Meeting , and HaShem Appeared to the Assembly , and told Moshe and Aharon to remove themselves from this assembly and He Would Destroy them in an instant. Moshe and Aharon pleaded with HaShem that the entire assembly should not be punished for the actions of a few and HaShem Told that all should get away from the tents of Korach , Dasan and Aviram .
Moshe needed to save the entire people so that this never happens again , so he asked HaShem that they not die a natural death , as an example to the people so that they not again disobey HaShem in such a way and face destruction as a nation Chas Ve Shalom .Moshe asked that the Earth open and swallow them and what is theirs . As soon as Moshe finished speaking , the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed Korach and all that was his , except his sons , who did not go along with what their Father had done , and even would rise for Moshe out of honour and respect , when Moshe would come there . Korach went to the Seventh depth of Gehinnom ( for there are seven levels of Gehinnom just as there are seven levels of Shamaim ) and every thirty days comes up near the opening to cry out in burning pain , that HaShem Is True and so are the words of Moshe . All Korach's wealth went down with him . A Flame came from HaShem and consumed the 250 followers of Korach . A Rabbi was once walking in modern times and met an arab bedouin who was actually in disguise , who was really Eliyahu Ha Navi , and the man told the Rabbi to come and he would show him where Korach is held . He took him to an opening in the ground nearby , where the rocks even on the surface were burning hot and smoldering and told him to look into the hole . Smoke bellowed out and the voice of Korach screamed from within saying , ' HaShem Is True and Moshe's words are just . '
The next day , the entire people complained to Moshe and Aharon about the deaths of Korach and his company , saying that Moshe knew what would happen if they brought Ketores and Moshe reminded them that he had warned Korach and his company but they would not listen . HaShem Appeared and wanted to again destroy them in an instant and sent the Malach Angel Ketsef to bring a plague . When Moshe was up on Har Mount Sinai and had persuaded the Angels to allow him to bring the Torah down to us , saying it is for humans who can keep Laws and have to fight their Yetzer Horahs , they , in reward for him showing them this fact , each taught him a gift of knowledge . The Malach Ha Maves the Angel of Death taught him that when the Angel is sent out , a way to stop him is to burn Ketores . Thus Moshe here , asked Aharon to quickly go and get the fire-pan , put fire on it from the Mizbayach Altar and put Ketores Incense and run between the living and the dead . Aharon was afraid to take Ketores away from the Mizbayach , putting his life at risk , but even after he remembered the death of his two sons when they brought a foreign fire to burn, still did it and ran between the living and the dying , grabbing hold of the Angel Ketzef and bringing him before Moshe . The smoke of the Ketores and the presence of Moshe , halted the plague .
The people still wanted proof that it was still Levi that was chosen for the Kehunah Priesthood.
HaShem For All Time Showed the people that it was Levi and Aharon who was chosen for the Kehunah and as Kohein Gadol , by having Moshe cut twelve staffs of equal length and instructed the Tribes to each carve their Tribal name and leader on each staff and for Levi, to carve Aharon's name on the Tribe of Levi's staff and to put them together in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony , and HaShem Would Show Who is Chosen .
They all did this , placing Aharon's staff in the middle so that no one could say that his staff was nearest the Shechinah . The next day , only Aharon's Staff blossomed , budded and almonds ripened on it , so this staff was kept before the Testimony to show for all time that Levi and Aharon was the chosen Tribe and position for Kohein Gadol and his family and Kohanim Gedolim from Levi.
Almonds in Hebrew are " Sh'keidim , " and within this word is the root ' Shaked ' which means 'hurry or quickly ,' and refers to the fact that Almonds ripen very quickly . This was in reference to the tribe of Levi who don't wait to serve HaShem but do so when called quickly as they did when they never followed the Chait Ha Eigel golden calf and were quick to punish the perpetrators . This also refers to Aharon , who is quick to serve HaShem as the Levites do by doing the Avodah , for the other Tribes and our people and Most Importantly for HaShem . The people still worried they might perish , and so Aharon's and the Kohanim's duty as well as the Levites duty was again put forward and guards were placed around the Testimony to prevent any non Kohanim from coming there.
Twenty four guards were placed in the Temple times around the Temple and within ( three being within ) . HaShem Also Taught of the 24 gifts of the Kohanim , the Tithes and other things they would get in their work as Kohanim , portions and Terumah and Maaser among others and so the people realized they would gain atonement and this helped with their worry . The Kohanim were given these , so they could without need for working , concentrate fully on the Avodah work around the Sanctuary . So ends the Parsha .
There is so much we can learn from this Parsha , but one point stares us in the face . This is the matter of , as Shlomo Ha Melech , taught us , to be happy with our lot .
HaShem Loves us all and each of us has our own specific task to complete . HaShem Tells us not to covet what others have . They have their own path to travel . Whatever task we are called upon to do by HaShem , is of worthy value . Creation needs us all and we are each a valuable part of it , whether we do a fancy looking job or not . We each are of value to HaShem . We each need each other and we all need to work together to complete Creation . HaShem Puts us in different places to do different things.
One person cannot do the task in Creation given to another . We each have our own special place in HaShem's Creation .
We are each and all needed to complete Creation . It is like pieces of a puzzle all being needed to complete the puzzle . Each piece is necessary and cannot be replaced by another piece . Each piece of the puzzle works toward the completed puzzle , just like each one of us is important and works toward the completion of Creation . We are all of value to our Beloved HaShem .
Each one of us is special to HaShem and each one of us is a part of the make up of Creation . We are all a valuable part of Creation as each puzzle piece is a valuable part of the completion of the puzzle . No puzzle piece can replace another and no puzzle can be without each and every piece of the puzzle . Each piece is of value to complete the puzzle and each one of us as a part of Creation , is needed to complete Creation . We are all of value to HaShem .
We are each to do our part in Creation that is set for us to do and work together with the rest of Creation to complete It . We all have value and HaShem Created us all as a part of Creation to make up Creation in total and , though each puzzle piece can't see the finished puzzle , each and every part of Creation , each one of us , can't see the result . But we can trust The All Knowing HaShem and His Creation that where He Puts us , is exactly what His Creation needs for Completion . So we all need to be content with who we are and what task is given to us that can only be specially done by us and us alone , for HaShem entrusted no one but us ourselves to do our task as that valuable part of Creation that is us and so , we must live for HaShem and all work together to bring Creation to completion.
We must remember that HaShem Chose no one else but us to be us and no one else to do what we must do . We don't see the full puzzle , just as each puzzle piece can't see the end picture or full picture . But we are all a valuable and special part of HaShem's Creation and so , are of eternal value to HaShem . May we all fulfill our part of Creation , and bring happiness and eternal love to HaShem .
I wish HaShem with Love , a Most Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love , and to all my fellow Yidden , a most special and beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love .