Weekly Torah Study is Saturday morning at 9. We meet in the Room 202 of Temple Brith Kodesh (enter by Door A).  We decide year by year how we’ll approach the weekly portion.  Last year we used the weekly d’var Torah from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks as a jumping off point.  This year, we’re going to consider each parsha from a Mussar perspective.  Each week an email is sent out (usually on Thursday) to anyone who may be interested.  You’re welcome on Saturday, whether or not you got the email or had time to read it.  Discussions are generally lively.

Parshat Korach

Bamidbar 16:1-3
Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth – descendants of Reuben – to rise up against Moses, together with two hundred and fifty Israelites, chieftans of the community, chosen in the assembly, men of repute. They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “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?”

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Talks on the Parasha
The disputes until now have always been with outsiders, and Moses can basically relate to them with equanimity. Korach, however, is not an outsider …

The Torah emphasizes that Korach is a clan leader among the Levites, Moses’ and Aaron’s tribe. He is joined with “men of repute.”

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Talks on the Parasha
the claims put forward by Korach and his followers … are much more far-reaching than any other claim advanced against [Moses] thus far. … the complaints, for the first time, do not relate to a practical problem but to a fundamental religious question. … [The previous complaints about food were] an instance of infantile behavior, not reflective of any deeper problem. …

Given the catastrophe of the previous parshah, does Korach’s complaint have merit? What is the basis of Moses’ political authority or his ability to speak for God?

Rashi
But Korah who certainly was a clever (lit. open-eyed) man, what reason had he to commit this folly? His mind’s eye misled him. He saw by prophetic vision a line of great men descending from him [referring to Samuel and other descendants] … He said, “Is it possible that all this dignity is to arise from me and I shall remain silent (be myself of no importance)?”

Ramban
Jealousy, desire, and love of honor take a person out of the world. The reason for this is that possessing these three middos, or even a single one of them, inevitably causes a person to forfeit his emunas haTorah.

Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe
This incident gives us an understanding of the hidden motivations that underlie our actions. Korach’s fight against Moshe stemmed from his feelings of jealousy, which generated his ideology regarding the mitzvos in general and the leader of the nation in particular. Additionally, he solidified his position with the prophetic vision of a great future. These three factors led Korach to take action against Moshe: 1) he had a philosophy; 2) he even had “proof” that he was right; yet 3) it was all rooted in a negative trait – jealousy.

The same three factors often compel us to act, as well. We might have ideas and ideals, and we might even have proof that we are following the correct path, but we must always realize that these ideas or actions are borne of our character traits. Before acting, and certainly before taking drastic measures, we should take time to think about the real impetus for our thoughts and
deeds. If they are rooted in positive traits – kindness, compassion, and so on – then we know we are truly on the right path. However, if we suspect that they might be rooted in negative traits – jealousy, hatred, craving for honor, and the like – then we are befter off admiftng our faults and refraining from acting on them.
…
In fact, a person must be especially careful when he acts “for the sake of Heaven,” because he might think that the truth of his cause gives him license to do as he pleases.

Can you think of examples of bad behavior that were rationalized? Why are religious conflicts particularly dangerous in this regard?

How do you develop the insight to recognize your own rationalizations? Do you have to do it all by yourself?

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