Dvar Torah Parsha Korach 5783

Bamidbar 16:1 – 18:32

Leadership: For Service or Power?

Our Parsha Korach describes two separate power struggles. First, we have Korach, a Levite, who is challenging Aaron’s exclusive right to make ritual offerings to Hashem, even though the instructions came directly from G_d. At the same time Dathan and Abiram, descendants of Reuben challenge Moshe’s ability and authority.

So, let’s look more closely at these leadership challenges. In Chapter 16, all three join forces with along with 250 representatives of the chieftains of the community. They insist all the community are holy and Adonai is within their midst, asking why Moshe and Aaron raise themselves above the rest. Moshe after falling on his face (prostrates himself) and says Hashem will decide all in the morning. He instructs Korach and his band to take fire pans and the next morning to place incense. He also tells them they have gone too far. It was after all, Hashem who elevated him and Aaron.

Moshe then sends for Dathan and Abiram, but they refuse to come. They rather complain bitterly of Moshe’s leadership. The next morning, all gather at the Tent of Meeting. Adonai’s presence appears. Hashem tells Moshe to stand back so he can obliterate them all. But Moshe speaks once again for the entire community, asking, when one sins, should the entire community bear the wrath. Adonai then through Moshe instructs the entire community to withdraw from the abode of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram and touch nothing that belongs to them. The people move away. Moshe tells them whatever will come is not from him, rather from Hashem. Korach and his people try to offer incense and are annihilated at once. An earthquake swallows Dathan and Abiram and their people, gone to Sheol alive in the realm of the dead.

In Chapter 17, firepans used by Korach and his people are made holy by Hashem. Perhaps by the holy fire that consumed them. The silver is hammered out and becomes a part of the altar. The next day, the community rails against Moshe and Aaron for causing their deaths. Hashem threatens to annihilate them all, but Moshe takes a firepan, adds incense, and goes to the people to make expiation. A plague begins, but Moshe stands between the people and the dead until the plague ends. 14,700 died. Adonai has Moshe take one staff from each tribal chieftain, inscribing the name of each of the 12 chieftain’s name on their staff. They are deposited in the Tent of Meeting. Aaron’s staff is chosen, and it blooms for all to see.

In Chapter 18, we learn of sacrifices and who can partake of each. Also, the redemption of the first born, both animals and human. Laws regarding tithing and the role of Aaron’s offspring forever going forward. If the people obey Hashem’s laws, they will live.

In our parsha, Korach sees the priestly service is all about social standing, a public display of sorts. Moshe tries to argue otherwise. On the one hand, Moshe who has lived a life of service to the people under his command, on the other Korach, Dathan, and Abiram who seek prestige and status. Even as G_d’s anger is kindled against the people because of their actions, Moshe tries to dissuade Hashem from destroying them all. Or as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks suggests, Moshe and Aaron sought truth, while Korach and company sought victory, status for themselves. Moshe demonstrated humility and service as a leader, while the other side sought power over others. To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.”

I look at this story, and realize we are living this kind of struggle in our own time. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks refers to Korach as the first populist. Populism, he says is the politics of anger. It appears in times when there is widespread discontent towards those in power who they see as working in their own interests rather than for the common good. This discontent leads to rejection of the current system and seeking a leader who will be the panacea for all their ills. Today, populist movements are the highest since the late 1930’s. It was the key to the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, and today even in America we here talk of revolution with slogans like “Make America Great Again”, a re-emergence of the same slogan by fascists in America in the 30’s. Truth becomes the greatest fatality in such times. Scapegoats are found to explain all those perceived failings. Populists claim they and they alone have the answers to the problems of the people.

It is not that argument is wrong. In Mishnah Avot 5:21 we learn, “Any dispute for the sake of heaven will have enduring value, but every dispute not for the sake of heaven will not have enduring value. What is an example of a dispute for the sake of heaven? The dispute between Hillel and Shammai. What is an example of one not for the sake of heaven? The dispute of Korach and all his company.”

May our voices speak truth in response to the false narratives of our day. In a world where trans people, drag queens, Jews, Muslims, Black and Brown people have become the enemy of the purveyors of falsehood, may we speak boldly and fiercely our voices of truth in response. We must not let the false narratives prevail. Our very experiment in democracy fails if we fail in this endeavor. We must confront made up truths with reality. May truth prevail! Baruch Hashem!