This Shabbos is Parshat Korach and our Torah portion starts by telling of the sad rebellion by Korach and his followers.How sad that we reached such heights,only to be brought down by such machlokes,disagreements and dissension.We could have walked into the Holy Land and probably greeted Mashiach had this event not happened,but it did and we still await Mashiach's coming.
Machlokes,disagreements and arguments break up our people Chas Ve Shalom.We are supposed to be one people,under ONE HASHEM and we are supposed to be one wih HaShem.This is how Creation is to be.
But why do we constantly have to bring dissension among us.It is because we still do not realize that we are not here to please ourselves,but to please HaShem.When we start to walk away from what HaShem tells us to do and we go toward our own desires,that is when the problem starts.We should have a complete love for HaShem and self-love should never be our driving force.Every moment we are in this world is a moment to make that moment a moment of HaShem's light.To miss out on doing that is to leave darkness in that moment of physicality.We are physical beings,but with a Neshoma that touches Heaven and connects Heaven to the physicality.HaShem desires us to let Heaven's- Shamaim's light flow down from Shamaim (Heaven) to the physicality,through our Neshomas.This is so we can bring Shamaim- Heaven down to Earth as one.
But actions of Machlokes go against the very grain of Creation,where all is Created to work as one and be one with HaShem.Machlokes and friction,only takes us further away (Chas Ve Shalom). When friction and Machlokes arguments and disagreements start,they grow.In the case of Korach and his followers who spoke against Moshe and Aharon,the disagreements were even among Korach and his own followers.Even they didn't agree with each other.This is how the evil of dissension works.It clouds the very truth of all things.
Korach,it is said,even had dissension within himself and it is said of him that his own hair was separated on his head on two sides.The word 'karech,' means 'bare/opening head patch.' So he was a man of dissension.
The word 'kerach,' also means 'ice,' suggesting coldness.To follow HaShem,we need to love with and follow HaShem with energy and the warmth of all we have ,fully and emotionally immersing ourselves in loving HaShem and doing all HaShem asks of us.We cannot be cold and remain unemotional and unattached to HaShem (Chas Ve Shalom) .
But how does evil dissension start.It starts from lack of thinking higher than oneself. It starts from a lack of appreciation with HaShem and all He gives us.The people had been shown such miracles,manna from Heaven,sea splitting and miracles against our enemies yet this was not fully appreciated.This created distance of some of the people to HaShem and so,this grew to some thinking they were in control of their own destinies by doing what they wanted.Thus Creating even more distance between HaShem and the dissidents.The result was dissatisfaction and a rebellion that brought about us remaining in the wilderness for much longer.
We need to learn to truly appreciate all HaShem does for us.We may complain and feel dissatisfied but if we look around ,we will see so many that have less than we have.We need to learn appreciation for HaShem,as so, strengthen the bond between HaShem and us.
As we know,Machlokes also includes Loshon Horah which is a very great aveirah.To Loshon and slander,is like eating the dust of the earth as the snake with Samael had to do in after being punished in the Garden,for Loshoning HaShem.So Korach and his followers Loshoned Moshe and Aharon and so were sprouting 'dust.'It is interesting that if we take Korach's name and write it backwards, it comes to 'Cherek,' which in Hebrew,is an 'insect' that crawls in the dust.Korach could have reached great heights as a Levite,but that was not enough for him.He made dissension and made what was supposed to be one (HaShem and us together) into a separate two.His very name shows this,as if we take the Gematrical value of the word 'Korach,' it comes to 100+200+8=308 and 3+0+8=11 and 1+1=2 . Two is not One with HaShem as we are supposed to be.
The Parsha starts out by saying,'Vayikach Korach,' suggesting how Korach took himself (by his own choice) away from HaShem and his people,He took himself away from HaShem's Law.He is referred to as 'Korach ben Yitzar,' a holy line from his Father that could have brought him greater things.But I see a hint in these words.If we separate the word 'Yitzhar,' into 'Yeitzah Har,' it means,'Leave/Go out from the Mountain.' In other words,Korach left HaShem and the very Torah that was given on the Mountain of Sinai.
It is so very important to follow HaShem as one.To be one people.When we all gather and come together as one,under HaShem ,as is hinted in Bereishit 49:1,the End of Days will come.MaShiach will come and the old separation of Judah and Ephraim will end.
HaShem knows what is needed to be done.It is time we all trusted Him.
Let us all make a very deep effort to stop the machlokes and start loving each other and work toward Oneness with HaShem.
With deepest love,I wish HaShem a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and oneness.