Torah For Our Times: Korach – Rebellion!

In the words of the late Rabbi Reuven Hammer, “Tragedy follows tragedy.  Rebellion follows rebellion.”  No sooner does  Moses’ deal with despondent and angry Israelites complaining about lack of creature comforts in the desert, then along comes Korach and his followers demanding Moses share his leadership: “[Moses], you have gone too far!  For all the community are holy, all of them, and the Lord is in their midst.  Why then do you raise yourselves above the Lord’s congregation? (Numbers 16:3)”

On the surface, it may appear Korach has a point.  Could it be Moses has usurped too much authority and not enough recognition of the rights of those he leads?  The 20^th century Jewish philosopher Martin Buber writes, “Both Moses and Korach desired the people to be the Holy people. But for Moses this was the goal.  In order to achieve it, generation after generation had to choose again and again. . . between the way of God and the wrong paths of their own hearts; between life and death. . . For Korach, the people. . . were already holy. . . so why should there be further need for choice? Their dispute was between two approaches to faith and to life.”  

Korach’s attempt at an insurrection was based on the false notion that by simply being born Jewish, one was naturally Holy regardless of personal actions and deeds. For Moses, Holiness  was a choice, albeit demanding. The choice involved both an acceptance of the One God and faith in the guiding principles and mitzvot that define the parameters of Jewish holiness. Moses understood  it would take at least a generation in the desert to create a community of believers. What, then, was Korach’s mission?  

Rabbi Hammer suggests Korach’s intentions were far less selfless than they may appear. “Korach became an example of someone who was concerned only for his personal gain. The midrash depicts him as mocking laws taught by Moses not because he has an honest disagreement with them but because he seeks power for himself.”

Moses is the leader who never sought leadership, but had it thrust upon him. Korach is the demagogue who wants to take power, not for the benefit of the people but for his own personal gain. For Korach, and too many others like him, it is easier to self-proclaim your holiness rather than strive to attain it.

Rabbi Howard Siegel