Parshat Korach
This week’s parasha is dealing with a group of people challenging a decision made by their leader. They want to be part of a lucky other group, which are serving G-d in the “mishkan” (the temporary place where the people of Israel refer as a temple during the nomadic times in the desert). The leader is trying to set up some kind of negotiations, but the rebels would not even meet and discuss issues. Therefore they get punished – the lord kills them all.
Korach is a famous rich guy, one of the lay leaders of the tribe of Levi. But he is not happy with everything he has (and as said, he has a lot!). He wants more then just richness – he wants to be powerful and to play an important role in society (should we call it – prestige?). And what can be more glories than serving the god of Israel like the Cohens and the Levis? Well not all Levis but only those who are relatives of Aaron, Moses brother. And this is exactly why Korach is angry.
So how does one gets into a job they want? In Israel, the best why is to know someone or to be loud and trouble maker. What happens if you are a pain is usually you get inside the system so you cannot complain about it anymore (cooptation).
But in this story, korach is not willing to even hear anything Moses got to say. He is playing hard to get. But this becoming soon a major problem – if one is not even willing to listen – there is no way in the world to achieve any compromise.
So Moses gets very frustrated. Not only that but also this korach guy has now 250 men with him and two other leaders from another tribe – Dotan and Aviram. This gang is walking all over the Israelites camp and talk about how bad leader Moses is and the need to change things immediately. They even challenge the whole exodus from Egypt to the land Israel. Moses and his bro Aaron are again doing their best to negotiate the situation. But Korach and his men, maybe due to fear of hearing a right but different opinion, will not listen.
So Moses is desperate and he understands G-d will have to punish the bunch. He is promising Korach and the rest that the lord will soon have an answer. And so it is – after a short while the earth is swallowing the leaders of the rebellion and the 250 men are burned alive.
Again, it looks like there is no way one can challenge Moses and the punishment is horrific – to be killed in an earthquake or to be burned in a fire is nothing too nice. How come Korach was punished so harshly?
Few explanations of course, but here lets talk about the tolerance and willing to understand other points of view. It is believed that Korach was not even willing to hear other views or other opinions. This is very upsetting and will always lead to an impossible situation. Who can negotiations set up if there is only one side willing to discuss?
This one takes us back to modern issues: in order to find solution, to many things, and achiev for example peace, we need to listen to the other side. There is now way in the world we can just dismiss whatever “the other side” have to say. By doing so – we go back to Korach – we will never hear where is one coming from and will never be able to understand what is all about. We don’t have to agree with the other side – we must listen and try to put ourselves in their position.
HDUK is recently developing more projects to take part in on-going discussions between Jews and non-Jews especially Muslims, in Britain and in Israel. One great example is “windows for peace”, but there are plenty more. If you are willing to not only say but to listen too – join today!
Shabbat shalom!
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