B"H

Monday, Sivan 30, 5786 / June 15, 2026

Today is Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. This week’s Torah reading in the Diaspora 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 jealous of Moshe who was the leader of the Jewish people and Aaron being the High Priest.  When his younger cousin, Elitzafan, was also appointed to a leadership position, Korach gathered 250 of the leaders of the people and together they rebelled against Moshe and Aaron.

Korach declared to Moshe and Aaron, "The entire congregation is holy... Why do you exalt yourselves above the congregation?" To prove that Moshe was misleading the people, 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 argued, “How is it possible that the entire Torah, which contains two hundred and seventy five chapters (Parshiot), cannot accomplish what the mezuzah, which is but one small part of the Torah, can?!  It makes no sense and these laws are 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 did not die because they repented at the very last moment.

Our sages say in Pirkei Avot, “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, G-d’s appointed leaders of the Jewish people.  In the end, Korach and all his wealth 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 on the door?

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.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY WONDERFUL DAY& CHODESH TOV