Be Careful What You Say, The Ground May Swallow You Up Because of It

Shabbat Shalom Hagesher!

This week’s parashah is קרח (korach)
Numbers 16:1-18:32

Candle Lighting: 8:11 PM
Havdallah: 9:19 PM

In this parashah:

א)     Korach, Dathan and Aviram lead a rebellion against Moses.

ב)     They are swallowed up along with their 120 followers by the earth.

ג)      Aaron is divinely chosen as the Kohen Gadol (high priest).

ד)     God orders gifts of food are to be given to the Kohanim.

This week’s Dvar Torah was written by the new Religion/Education RGB member, Franckie Echeverria!

This week’s Torah portion is Korach. Although there are many important events I would like to focus on one specific part. Korach and many of his followers make a decision to confront Moses and challenge his leadership. “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do raise yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” (Chapter 16, Verse 3) Korach is specifically upset because he does not understand why Moses has to lead the Israelites. He feels there is a need for equality among the community. Ironically, although Korach professed the desire for equality, the way he approached Moses said the opposite. G-d in turn punished Korach and his followers by opening up the ground and swallowing everyone and their possessions because they had provoked G-d. Although this seems like an unfair punishment for someone who tried to speak their mind, it was in reality well deserved. One interpretation of this event shows that Korach and his followers were punished, not for what they did, but rather for the way that they made their remark to Moses. This teaches us that the way you say something can make all of the difference. Another famous figure in Jewish history, the Baal Shem Tov, was widely known for his views on equality in specific aspects of Judaism. He felt that even if one did not have the same opportunity or fortune to study in a Beit Midrash all day, one was still able to maintain a heightened level of spirituality through prayers, and acts of kindness. When we speak to people we must treat them with the utmost respect regardless of their position in life. You are only cheating yourself out of important connections in life if you chose to treat people differently. Judaism always encourages people to be respectful to one another. By doing so we are able to create and maintain strong communities where people can thrive.
Shabbat Shalom!