Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 30 Sivan, 5783

Today’s portion is really fascinating as we dig more into Korach’s rebellion against Moses.  Korach wanted the right thing – but he was reacting out of fear instead of trusting Hashem’s plan.  How often do we respond and react with our fear (or fight or flight response) instead of from a place of trust?

Today we learn in the portion how multiple realities can co-exist with one another.  And how one person’s efforts can shape others’ realities.  And this led to a full blown rebellion against Moses – because Korach incited the people against Moses.

Korach likely believed he was NOT doing anything problematic here.  These people were choosing to join Korach not because he influenced them to – but because as he told the story of the reality, those in the camp saw things the way Korach saw them.  Korach couldn’t see the possibility being any different in his reality.

Moses?  He encouraged Korach – to assume he was correct – and gave them the tools in which to demonstrate Moses was wrong.  Moses was open to the possibility his version of reality was wrong.

Think about this.  This is a guy who spoke DIRECTLY with Hashem. This is someone who WATCHED the power flow through him when the seas parted.  And yet? He was still somehow willing to concede he may be wrong here and give Korach the opportunity to show Moses Hashem had really choses Korach as High Priest instead of Aaron.

Both Korach and Moses BOTH did not seem afraid of what was to come.  Both BELIEVED in the right-ness of their cause. This is where they were as we come to the end of today’s portion.  Korach fully believed Moses was going to lose this. Moses trusted he wasn’t.  Moses likely knew that Korach was in for a rude awakening – but still.  Why would Hashem allow this to happen?  Why would Hashem allow Korach to be so wrong?

As we come to a close, I think this relates to the new moon cycle we are entering into.  Tonight at sundown, the Hebrew month of Tamuz begins.  It is a month of paradox. Lots of opportunities for challenge.  Things will SEEM chaotic – but only because our current reality is stuck in the past and needs to change.  We will be called to see in the darkness – which we all have the power to do.

From Moses’ perspective – this all must have felt very chaotic.  All Moses wanted was peace.  Korach bred chaos in the camp.  Where was the blessing?  Moses was looking for it.

For us? Where do we see chaos ahead? Where are those things happening that will inspire us to change? For us to receive the blessing in the midst of these situations meant for change?

Things aren’t going to always work the way we THINK they SHOULD.  But the universe is working them for the way that will serve us best.  And for that? We need to trust the way Moses trusts in this portion!

What are your thoughts?

My commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 28 Sivan, 5782

Good morning! It’s a new work week! Let’s dig into todays Parsha!

We are knee deep in the middle of Korach’s story. He and 250 people came to Moses to complain about him. Moses challenged him; get a fire pan and put fiery coals in it. Moses tells him God will choose who he wants as High Preist – you or Aaron.

Moses well knew that Hashem wanted Aaron as priest because he heard directly from God.

Moses then sent messengers to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; the goal was to continue to try and find harmony and peace. But they refused Moses’ messengers.

This is where we come to today.

Todays portion finished the end of Abiram and Dathan’s response; basically telling Moses he didn’t keep his promises of a land flowing with Milk and Honey, or an inheritance of fields and vineyards.

Moses was upset at this, because he just wanted peace.

Moses then turned to Korah and said “tomorrow, you and your entire congregation should prepare yourselves before God,” because Korah, his congregation and Aaron were all going to stand before God and God would make clear who was supposed to be the high priest.

So Korah and the 250 men he was with each took a fire pan, Aaron took one too. They put coals and incense on them, and stood at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Korah had incited his entire congregation against Moses and Aaron all night long.

My thought is they came to the entrance tired, it seems.

A lot has been written about this:

Rashi writes:

“Korah ganged (his) entire congregation against them. The entire night, Korah went to the tribes and tricked them, saying. “Do you think I care only for myself? I care only for all of you! These men have come and taken all the high positions. Moses took the kingship for himself and the priesthood for his brother.” Eventually they were all lured into Korah’s rebellion.”

Rabbi Menachem Mendal writes:

“The Israelite camp was several miles long. How did Korah manage to singlehandedly gather the entire congregation together in one single night? Why was his message so compelling that not one individual refused to come?

Korah must have used a Kabbalistic formula, invoking various names of God, to draw the people to gather together. This is the way the Messiah will eventually cause the ingathering of the exiles, and Korah knew this secret. And we can only marvel at the internal contradictions of a man who, on the one hand, knew the Kabbalistic secrets of the Messiah, and yet on the other, was foolish enough le challenge the authority of Moses.”

There is also a midrash about this:

Korah used cynical rhetoric to woo the crowds:

“There is a widow in our neighborhood” he said, “with two orphan girls, and she came to plough her field. Moses said to her, “You may not plow with an ox and donkey together” (Deuteronomy 22:10). When she came to plant, he said to her You should not sow your field with a mixture of seed’ (Leviticus 19:19). When she came to harvest he told her to leave over produce for the poor. When she came to thresh, he said to her, Give me the priestly tithes on this produce! Since he justified the laws, she gave it all to him.

“What did the poor woman do? She sold the field and bought two sheep so she could dress from their wool and enjoy their offspring.

“When they gave birth, Aaron came and said to her, ‘Give me the firstborn, for God has said, “You must sanctify every firstborn male from your cattle or your flock, to God, your God (Deuteronomy 15:19). He justified the law to her and she gave him the newborns. When she sheared the sheep, Aaron came and said, Give me the first shearings!’

“She said, ‘I can’t take this man! I’m simply going to slaughter these animals and eat them.’ When she slaughtered them, Aaron came and said, ‘Give me the priestly gifts of the forelimb, the tongue and the stomach!’

She said, ‘Even after I’ve slaughtered them am I still not spared from your hands? Look I am simply going to consecrate them all’

“‘Oh,” he said to her. ‘If they are consecrated then they are all mine!’” and he took them, leaving her to weep over her two daughters.”

So. This is an interesting insight into how people can incite others.

I am reflecting on how our reality is defined on how we let it be framed and reframed. Korah gives us an insight into his view of reality – and it seems very skewed. The people who listened to Korah – were they listening to other versions of the same reality? On how Hashem, each step of the way, protected them? This could be a way of showing gratitude?

In our lives, when we face difficult challenges, how we frame them in our heads makes a difference. As an example; I am learning through my 9 year old when we feel sad, if we feel our sadness, and allow ourselves to feel sad, we can navigate it differently than if we frame our sadness as “bad” and something to avoid. One option is to become angry over our sadness because we believe we shouldn’t be sad. But if we allow ourselves to experience sadness, then we can also allow ourselves to feel happy!

It’s all a matter of how our brains hear the story of our reality and what we tell ourselves of our reality.

What are your thoughts? Tomorrow we find out what happens at the entrance of the tent of meeting – because todays portion ends with God appearing before the entire congregation in a pillar of cloud!!!

What stories are you telling yourself that rile you up? How could you reframe that reality in a different way?

There are three sides (or more) to every situation; which side do you listen to? Your own? Your parents? Your friends? It can be tough to sort through; but ultimately we should work to be in touch with Hashem’s reality!

Would love to hear from you!