B"H

Friday, Sivan 29, 5784 / July 5, 2024

This week’s Torah reading is Parshat Korach. The Parsha begins with the story of Korach’s rebellion against Moshe and Aaron. 

Korach was a member of the tribe of Levi and a cousin of Moshe and Aaron. He was one of the wealthiest people, but he was jealous of Moshe’s leadership and of Aaron being the High Priest. Korach wanted a leadership role. He gathered 250 people and together they rebelled against Moshe and Aaron.

Korach claimed, "The entire congregation is holy... Why do you exalt yourselves above the congregation?" 

Korach asked Moshe, “What is the law when a house is full of Torah scrolls, does the house still need a mezuzah on the door?”  Moshe replied that it needed a mezuzah.

Korach then mocked Moshe, “How is it possible that the entire Torah, cannot accomplish what the mezuzah, which is but one small part of the Torah, can?! These laws could not be from G-d.”

With this Korach wanted to prove that Moshe was not speaking in G-d’s name and as a result wanted to disqualify the leadership positions which Moshe appointed. Moshe warned Korach that his uprising was not against him and Aaron but against G-d.

When Korach didn't repent, Moshe told everyone to distance themselves from Korach and his people.  The Torah tells us what happened next. "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up and their households."  Korach and the leaders of the revolt disappeared into the ground.  The others who were with Korach were burnt in a fire sent from G-d.  Korach’s sons repented at the last moment.

Our sages in Pirkei Avot say, “Who is a rich? Whoever is happy with his share!”  Korach was one of the wealthiest people, but he was not happy with his share.  Because of his jealousy and envy, he used his wealth to gain power and argue against Moshe and Aaron, who were G-d’s appointed leaders of the Jewish people.  In the end, Korach and all his wealth and all his people were forever lost.

Q. What is the explanation behind this law?  Korach’s argument seems to be a very logical one.  Why should a house full of Torah scrolls, which contain the entire Torah, need a mezuzah, which has only one small portion of the Torah?

A.There is a wonderful lesson in this.  This teaches us that it is not enough for one to conduct themselves according to the laws and ways of the Torah and be a good Jew within their home.  One has to be a good Jew also in public.  A Jew must be proud of being Jewish and exhibit it also on the outside, by affixing a mezuzah on the outside, so that everyone will recognize that this is a Jewish home and a dwelling place for G-d.

Shabbat & Sunday are Rosh Chodesh of the new month TAMMUZ.

SHABBAT SHALOM & CHODESH TOV

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