Question of the Week - Parashat Korach

June 22, 2008 · Filed Under Korach, Question of the Week ·

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And now, the question:

Korach’s claim does not seem so crazy. He basically argued: “All the people in the community are holy, and G-d is with them. Why are you setting yourselves above G-d’s congregation?” (Bamidbar 16:3) Why do we need a hierarchy of Jewish Leadership? We are all created in God’s image! If so, what was Korach’s mistake? How are we to relate to his message of complete equality within the Jewish community?

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Benny Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 am

How can one have a nation without a leadership? Is that possible? Do we know of any nation throughout history who did not have a leadership?
Korach should probably be understood differently. We see that in the past two parashot there has been a problem with the leadership: In Behaalotcha- the request of meat was answered by expanding the leadership, Miryam and Aharon were punished for acts which do not fit those of leaders. In Shelach - do I have to say anymore?!
Korach is saying: If there is such leadership problems - let someone else give it a try.
His mistake was that that is the will of g-d, and his dispute is a dispute against the almighty. And in a more modern perspective - a problem with the leadership is usually a problem with the nation. the leadership only reflects the state of the nation. To try to fix the leadership without fixing the much greater problems within the nation itself won't help at all.

Garnel Ironheart Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:54 am

Rav SR Hirsch notes that the difference between Moshe and Korach is "kedoshim tihiyu". In the future tense. For Moshe (and God0, holiness is something a person strives towards achieving. Yes, it is a possible achievement and a required goal of the Torah life, but it is not something handed to a person.
Korach's approach was the exact opposite. Holiness is intrinsic. Kedoshim tihiyu means bang! All Bnei Yisrael from that moment on were automatically holy. Everyone's approach, great or small, right or wrong, was automatically correct because the entire congregation was, by default holy. This meant that anyone could be the Kohen Gadol since Aharon's intrinsic holiness was the same as anyone else's.
And this was Korach's big mistake: He confused Moshe's "equality of opportunity" with his "equality of result".
But more than this was the Orwellian spin on his contention: In a congregation of equals, he still felt there should be a leader, namely: him. "All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others."

Dan Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:02 am

Well, isn't the fact that not everyone can be a kohen gadol exactly the proof that there isn't true "equality of opportunity" in Judaism? We don't all have the opportunity to rise to the level of kohen gadol!

Dan Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:04 am

So, how do you interpret the words "All the people in the community are holy"? Are you saying basically that he blamed Moshe for all the problems while saying that the nation was blameless. It was ONLY a problem of leadership?

Gab for the Business Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 am

Stupid commies …

Ok, no seriously. Just because we are equal in one respect (created in the image of ..) does not make us equal in every respect (leadership). It's like the silly debate of what shapes a person, 'nature' (i.e. birth, genetics, ) or nurture (environment they grow up in). It's dumb because both have been proven to have an effect.

Chinese folks have their own genetic makeup, yet those on the interior suffer less from pollution-caused sicknesses than those in the big cities.

Garnel Ironheart Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm

The opportunity is not for political positions but for spirituality and closeness to God. According to The Rav, the highest level a Jew can reach is that of prophecy, of communion with the Divine. One does not have to a king or Kohen Gadol to achieve that level. Anyone has the opportunity to reach this highest rung.

Odelia Esther TItane Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm

All the people in the community are holy because they were present on Mont Sinai when the torah was given to the nation. We need a hierarchy of Jewish leadership, to have a connection between G-d and the nation. Furthermore, Aaron was given the kehouna by G-d, and Moshe was set to be the spiritual leader for the nation.

Korah’s mistake was that his visions mislead him because he saw that Shemouel is going to be born from his descendents whom will be equal to Moshe and Aaron. Korah said that it is possible that this greatness is going to come from his descendents in the future and that he will be with no reaction. Thus, Korah decided to face up to the challenge because he heard from Moshe that all of them (Korah’s people) are going to die and only ONE will be saved. His mistake was to think that he will be the one being saved. However he didn’t see clearly because his children made teshouva.

Moshe Y. Gluck Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm

I submit as my answer a blogpost I wrote a while back on the subject: http://esefer.blogspot.com/2005/06/comrade-korach...“>
http://esefer.blogspot.com/2005/06/comrade-korach...
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Tamar Cohen Says:
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm

the torah tells us- "Make for yourself a rav"
we need a leader who has more wisdom than us to guide us. we may all be holy and even have the potential to be leaders, but its very important that we should have a leader to show us the appropiate path to follow and to answer our questions because many people sometimes become blinded by what they think is right. people have different opinions, and they need one person, like a rav or someone with more torah wisdom, to help them come to the right answer. even a leader should have someone with more wisdom to consult with. in korach's case, the jews knew that Moshe was a great man and that he talked to Hashem face to face- he obviously had more wisdom and insight into the world than them, even though all the Jews are equally holy, and that's why Korach was wrong in claiming that there's no need for a leader.

Avi Says:
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:15 am

where did Korah sin? where is the equality in society?
Korah as we all know was a levite and had ruah akodesh. he took Datan and Aviram and On to revolt against Moses… we all know that but this is very basic. if we go deeper we learn that On leaves the group thanks to his wife who sat in front of the tent revealing her hair, and so Korah and the gang bypassed the house. Korah on the other hand had a wicked wife who would always criticize, belittle and question Korah's observance to Moses, where at one point Korah was blinded. His intentions were good, he wanted to serve God, he wanted to ascend but the approach he chose was fatal to him and 250 people. so to answer briefly Korah sinned because of jealousy and misguidance from his wife, meaning he had a weakness in emunah.
secondly, he sinned because of his ruah hakodesh, he saw the the great prophet shemuel would come from him, so he became haughty and arrogant and challenged the so ever humble leader. the nevuah was wrong, it meant that his kids would have the zehut to have shemuel as a prophet and not him.

PART 2)
where does equality fit in here? why if everyone is holy, why cant everyone be holy??… well everyone knows what happens to a boat full of captains?…it sinks! also in theory, equalitarian societies aka communism are utopist but have failed miserably when put in practise.
so to answer, and this is my personal answer: NO not everyone is equal. not everyone can perform each and every duty the same as the other, we would be called robots. God creates people with their own gifts and they are created in the image of god individually, not globally. a society, will have its' leaders and followers, but without diversification and most importantly role assignments a society will cease to exist.

Shimon Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 2:56 am

I think it is important to make a distinction. I don't think it is a question of "leadership". It is clear that someone has to be the leader (i.e. Moshe Rabbeinu) and it may even be necessary to limit the number of people privileged to work in the Mishkan (Kohanim and Leviyim). I don't think Korach could argue with that.
However, Korach has a problem with the special status of Kedusha bestowed upon the kohanim (which /?Moshe Rabbeinu and the Leviyim do not have). It is unfair that they should be considered more holy for doing their respective jobs. Even if they serve a unique function shouldn't we say echad hamarbeh ve'echad hamamit.
Why should a "poshiter yid" who tries his best to make his smal donation to the klall be considered less kadosh.
Now that I have slightly reformulated the question I need to pause and think because i'm not sure I have a good answer.

israel y Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 8:00 am

Korach's mistake was his arrogance. He could only feel good about himself by accusing Moshe and Aharon (and indeed all the kohanim) of arrogance with their special privileges. When we have a defect and realize that someone else does not, we feel uncomfortable in his presence.

Shirin_Shaban Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Korach, a Levite, challenges Moshe over the position of High Priest. He convinces 250 men to stand up to Moses and that they had the right to the office of High Priest. This position was already designated to Aharon. They fact that Korach and his followers argues against Moses shows the simple idea that they did not have 100% faith in Moshe and worst of all in God. Each follower challenged Moshe because they too believed they were superior. No god can come about from one who believes that they are above the law. That is represented by each and every one of their deaths. Yes, all the people in the community are holy. G-d is with them. However, God obviously chose Aharon, the most fit for the position and Moshe for his position FOR A REASON. We must believe that those that are our leaders are not out to take advantage of us. They care for us and they want the best for us. God chose those people to help us continue being holy, not expolite us. Korach and his followers could not grasp that those that are the leaders of the Jewish people are not any greater. Everyone is equally holy and great in gods eyes. He himself felt he was greater than everyone else by wanting to become a leader. Moses and Aharon were humble because they never asked for it. God saw they truly cared for people and have proven themselves worthy. These were Korachs mistakes.

bethany Says:
June 25th, 2008 at 11:47 pm

While it might seem that Korach's claim is a sensible one, this is not the case. Korach was correct in claiming that everyone is equal, and created "B'Tzelem Elokim". However, while people might be equal, that doesn't mean that their jobs in life, their yeud, is the same. Its just like the relationship between men and women; men aren't superior to women, they just have different roles in life. It says in the gemara: Who says your blood is redder?" How can you claim that you're more important to this world than someone else? So too, here, the Kohanim weren't given their avodah because they're better in the eyes of G-d, this is just their role in life. Also, if he truly believed his claim, and wasn't just making a bid for power, he would've questioned the status of Am Yisrael as an Am Kadosh, and Am Nivchar. If all people are created "btzelem Elokim" then why did Am Yisrael spearate themselves?

avi Says:
June 26th, 2008 at 10:50 am

just to make it clear, Korah's real intent wasn't to be the people's defender but in the opposite he wanted the power. he envied Moses, he was jealous and couldn't take it. it says Vayikah, he took by force…this is like a coup d'etat. so evn korah was a gadol, his ambitions superseeded his morals and values.