Like last week’s Parshah, Korach carries a powerful message for us—even today.
Korach was an extremely wealthy and influential member of the Levite tribe. But his status went to his head, and he started up with the leader of the Jews, Moshe Rabbeinu. By challenging Moshe’s authority, he also challenged the authority of the Torah itself. He gathered 250 leaders from across the tribes and began mocking the Torah. Emboldened by his following, he demanded that certain laws be interpreted his way.
It didn’t end well. Moshe humbled himself and personally approached Korach in an attempt to make peace. But it didn’t work. In the end, the earth opened up and swallowed Korach, his family—even infants—and some of his supporters.
Such is the result of strife. Arguments, strife, and disagreements have a knack of becoming full-blown conflicts that destroy people, families, and communities. Just look at the current war in Gaza. Hostages endure unimaginable suffering, yet many (too many) of their fellow citizens continue fighting among themselves—right against left, left against right—pulling even moderate voices into despair. All the while, the hostages suffer. This, too, is the result of strife. Nothing gets resolved, and too many suffer.
What was Korach’s end? He was swallowed by the earth—by materialism. The noise of conflict blinds people to what really matters and drags them into distractions and suffering.
Reb Noson writes that the great scourge of our generation is strife, controversy, and endless feuds—whether within families or beyond. The lesson of Korach is to avoid disputes wherever and however we can.
May HaShem bless us with peace—true peace—for all of us, for all of Israel, and may we merit to witness the arrival of Mashiach in our time, Amen.
Have a great Shabbos,
Chaim Kramer
