As if to say: I know better than the Divine KI TEITZEI who is the best to lead this people and it KORACH is me. The opposite self perceptions; the same conclusion. The stories of Bamid- bar revolve around the reality of human ALIYA-BY-ALIYA nature; the challenge of fealty to the Divine SEDRA SUMMARY amidst the myriad of human weaknesses. And a myriad of weaknesses there are.
Rabbi Reuven 1st Aliya (Bamidbar 16:1-13) Kor- Tradburks ach staged a rebellion against Director of Moshe and Aharon with Datan RCA Israel Region and Aviram and On with 250 others. They The story of the rebellion of Korach paral- claimed: we are all holy, why then are you lels the story of the spies from last week. above us? Moshe was distraught. He coun- Both are a rejection of the Divine, albeit in tered: G-d Himself will affirm who He the rough and tumble of human dynamics. chooses. Bring an incense offering and He In the sin of the spies, although G-d prom- will choose. He spoke to Korach: Why is it ised the land to us over and over - many insufficient for you to serve as a Levi that times - the reality of the actual march gave you seek to be a Kohen as well? Moshe the people cold feet. The sense of inade- called for Datan and Aviram. They refused, quacy, of weakness, of lack of confidence, saying: your leadership has failed, for you of inferiority in the face of the nations of the failed in bringing us to the land of Israel. land drove the people to demur. As if to say: The rebellion is multi pronged. There is we are inadequate even with G-d’s prom- Korach. He seeks to be leader, either in ises. Korach, on the other hand, suffers not place of Moshe or of the Kohen Gadol, to from a sense of inadequacy but of inflated usurp Aharon. For we are all holy. Which is self image. His bloated self perception led true. Datan and Aviram challenge Moshe’s him to challenge Moshe’s leadership, in leadership; Moshe has failed to lead them spite of G-d’s repeated selection of Moshe. to the Promised land. Which is also true. But as in any rebellion, the criticisms are Keren Malki empowers true, but half truths. We are all holy; but, families of children with special needs in please, G-d speaks to Moshe face to face. Israel to choose home And true, Moshe is not going to lead them to care. Donations are the Promised land now; but they are going tax-approved in Israel, US and UK. to get there. Oh, and what about leading Honoring the memory of them out of Egypt, leading to Mt. Sinai? The success of a leader lasts til nightfall; by הי”ד Malka Chana Roth kerenmalki.org 1985-2001, killed in the morning, all’s forgotten. There is no mem- 02-567-0602 Sbarro bombing. ory when it comes to dissatisfaction; past
6 TORAH TIDBITS 1423 / KORACH 5781 discussing how to continue to operate the Zula when the teenagers aren’t always success is old news. And, did we forget that interested in compiling with corona it wasn’t Moshe’s fault but the spies’? guidelines,SUMME suchR H OasL InotDA YproperlyS COM wearingING. 2nd Aliya (16:14-19) Moshe was theirJus tmasks. imag iDuene s htoe pCorona,ping n theach aZulat is angry. He said to G-d: Do not operatingwatchi noutsideg you r itski dusuals/gr alocationnd- on accept their offerings. I never Yaffochi ld Streetren p sincelayin weg o n cannot the n beice s inside.t took a thing from anyone. He turned to Kor- Thebe coldach eins Yerushalayimwhile you a wasll st frigid,ay in and ach: tomorrow, Aharon and you all shall myy ohandsur ow remainedn holida iny myapa pocketsrtmen twhile… offer incense on coals, each bringing the I shuffledMUCH chea pmye r bodythan tos ttryayi ngand in stayhote lswarm.! incense before G-d. They did so, gathering Yet, a few meters in front of me our Zula at the entrance to the Mishkan. G-d counselors were strumming their guitars appeared to the entire group. and sitting calmly as they listened to the Leadership in the Torah is not self serving, youth unburden themselves. They were but service of the people and of G-d. Moshe seeing the potential in these kids and is insulted. He has had no personal gain. watering them with acceptance and love Those looking for leadership foist their because they know that they will be the ignoble intentions on others; when, in fact, futureL I blossomingV E O P P O SleadersI T E T ofH Ethe S EJewishA Moshe is the most humble of all and with people. 0 5 4 4 - 3 3 2 6 2 1 36 DAY no personal motive. davidz@A shkelonProperties.com
3rd Aliya (16:20-17:8) G-d warned DECLUTTER Moshe and Aharon: stand clear CHALLENGE for I am ready to destroy them. Avi Join the 36 day challenge for $1 a Moshe and Aharon objected: one sins and Executive Director, OU Israel You are angry at them all? G-d instructed day + 7 bonus days to get ready the people: stand clear. Datan and Aviram Save a Life - Gain yours for Pesach. Daily challenge email, stood brazenly at their homes with their video, how tos, & support group. wives and children. Moshe: The following 1 of 78,424 Finally declutter test will establish whether I am sent by G-d. EFRAT AND get organized!! If you all suffer a unique fate, swallowed www.efrat.org.il 02-5454500 into the earth, then it is clear that you have JOIN TODAY! displeased G-d. The earth opened up, swal- www.balaganbegone.com/36 Hotline option avaliable lowing they and theirs into the earth. A fire consumed the 250 incense bearers. Elazar, son of Aharon took the incense fire pans for STARTS FEB 14, 2021 they had become holy by use. He took these and used them for a plating of copper for the altar, so all will know that only Kohanim רפואה שלמה -are to bring incense. The people com יהודה מאיר בן יקירה plained to Moshe and Aharon that they
OU ISRAEL CENTER 7 OU ISRAEL CENTER 5 were killing the nation. A cloud covered the nostrils. Moshe is indicating a powerful Mishkan. lesson of religious leadership: religious leadership, sought by the rebels, must From the punishment, we see the sin. be pure, lofty, holy, driven by purity of Desired leadership, high office, lording over motive, not the earthy desires of power and others; their fate was to fall low, below the influence. earth. The bearers of the incense intended high religious office; the fire of religious 4th Aliya (17:9-15) G-d wanted to desire consumed them. Incense assumes a destroy the people. Aharon central role in this story. Moshe told all to avoided this calamity by bringing bring incense. In the next aliya, during the incense immediately, standing between the plague, Aharon brought incense to arrest dead and alive. the plague. Why not some other offering, The intent to destroy the people by G-d is a like a sacrifice? Incense symbolizes the recurring theme. But it never happens. This ephemeral, the spiritual, the intangible. is a crucial theme: what the people deserve The Hebrew word for smell is reyach, akin is one thing. What they actually receive is to ruach, spirit. The word for breathing is another. G-d’s strict justice is tempered noshem, related to neshama, soul. Incense by mercy, by Moshe and Aharon’s efforts. is smoke, scent, wafting, intangible, like the Man may deserve destruction; but the soul. Man was created from the adama, the power of G-d’s mercy mitigates the harsh- earth, with his neshama breathed into his ness of what we deserve. The Torah is the ,story of love of G-d for the Jewish people לעילוי נשמת In loving memory of our beloved suspending what we deserve out of love. sister, mother, aunt and grandmother 5th Aliya (17:16-24) Moshe said: Inscribe the name of each tribe רנה תמר בת בן-ציון ואסתר ז"ל Rena Spigelman on a staff, with Aharon’s name on Sheinfeld z"l the staff of Levi. The staff that sprouts is the one chosen. They were all placed in the .Mishkan. Aharon’s sprouted ג' תמוז on her 15th yahrzeit Schorer, Spigelman, Sheinfeld families and The staff in the Torah is a symbol of power; ,Moshe’s staff was the vehicle of the plagues לעילוי נשמת defeating Paraoh through Divine Power. In loving memory of our father, Aharon’s sprouted staff is a symbol of grandfather and great-grandfather his Divine right to the power of religious יוסף בן שמואל וגננדל ז"ל Joseph Schorer z"l ה' בתמוז on his 10th yahrzeit Schorer, Shames, Apelbaum, Finkelman families
8 TORAH TIDBITS 1423 / KORACH 5781 butbut youyou couldcould possiblypossibly dodo them.them. For when leadership. itit comescomes toto communicationscommunications fromfrom G-d,G-d, youyou areare unique,unique,6th irreplaceable,irreplaceable, Aliya (17:25-18:20) sui generis, G-d said:one “It sounded too good ofof aa kind.kind. place Aharon’s staff as a com- to be true – a superb sea-view memoration of this. The people ThisThis exchangeexchange presentspresents a fundamental apartment in Anglo-populated complained to Moshe that those that apartment in Anglo-populated principleprinciple ofof thethe Torah:Torah: thatthat G-d speaks approach the Mishkan die. The Kohanim Ashkelon for only 15% down to Moshe in a way that He does not, nor toand Moshe Leviim in are a way charged that with He doesprotecting not, nor the – is actually a reality.” willwill HeHe inin thethe futurefuture everever do again with sanctity of the Mishkan. While the Kohanim said another happy client anyoneanyonewill serve else.else. at WhenWhenthe altar, MosheMoshe the Leviim says that will people serve comecome toto himhim seekingseeking G-d,G-d, whatwhat he means them and preserve the sanctity of the entire Owniing your own apartment does not just allow is:is:Mishkan. II havehave access accessThe Kohanim toto G-d.G-d. He Heare speaksspeaks to both toto safeme.me.- you ffreedom, but offers monetary savings, and (Speaking(Speaking toto G-dG-d isn’tisn’t thethe trick;trick; thethe tricktrick isis an iincrease in your investment value. guard and to enjoy the holy offerings. They Angllo-populated, sunny Ashkelon is the answer! whenwhen HeHe answersanswers back.)back.) Similarly,Similarly, when are given portions of offerings to consume, IItt’’s very affordable – from $500,000 with just a 15% MosheMoshe sayssays thatthat hehe teachesteaches G-d’s law, what doTruewn pa wholesaleryment, mortgag fromes ava ithelable diamondas well as b ank though with strict holiness. Agriculture guboursaarantees with. Renta overl incom 25e o yearsften in experienceexcess of 3.5%. hehe meansmeans isis thatthat G-dG-d communicatescommunicates those also has holy produce, gifts that are given member diamond dealers club lawslawsto the toto Kohanim, himhim andand toto eaten nono oneone with else.else. strict holiness. Engagement Rings Stud Earrings L II V E O P P O S I ∙T E T H E S E A ThisThisFirst couldcould born veryvery animals wellwell bebeare thethe holy prime gifts purpose to the Pendants ∙ Tennis Bracelets 0 5 4 4 - 3 3 2 6 2 1 Kohanim, offered as offerings with holi- 050-573-90610 5 4 4 - [email protected] 3 2 6 2 1 ofof thisthis YitroYitro story.story. For,For, inin the very next davidz@A shkelonProperties.com story,story,ness, consumedthethe givinggiving by ofof the thethe Kohanim; Torah,Torah, whilethe very first www.JeffMorDiamondJewelry.com born humans are redeemed. The Kohanim samesame themetheme ofof Moshe’sMoshe’s uniquenessuniqueness as the are not to receive a portion of land in Israel; oneone toto whomwhom G-dG-d speaksspeaks isis central. G-d is their portion. 33rdrd aliyaaliya (18:24-27)(18:24-27) Moshe heard. The people complain that proximity to HeHe chosechose judges,judges, with only the G-d is tough, life threatening. Moshe reas- MarSea Modest Swim & Casualwear Marci Rapp mostmost difficult difficult cases brought to www.MarSeaModest.net (NIS) 050-424-8359 sures the people that the Kohanim and the 050-424-8359 him.him. MosheMoshe sentsent YitroYitro home.home. www.MarSeaModest.com ($USD) Leviim will protect the holiness, ensuring ItItthat takestakes all is doneanan honest honestin accord leaderleader with the toto demands acceptaccept suggestionssuggestionsof the holiness toto improve.improve. of the Mishkan. MosheMoshe displaysdisplays his honestyhonesty andand humilityhumility –– ifif thethe suggestion is 7th Aliya (18:21-32) The Leviim good,good, embraceembrace it.it. JustJust asas YitroYitro accepted the also receive Maaser in lieu of a THE BEST DESIGN, ENGINEERING newsnews ofof thethe ExodusExodus andand affirmedaffirmed One G-d, THE BEST DESIGN, ENGINEERING portion in the land. With AND INSTALLATION OF AIR soso too,too, MosheMoshe admitsadmits hehe couldcould improveimprove his SYSTEMS. Kohanim and Leviim responsible for the CONDITIONING SYSTEMS. system.system. TwoTwo menmen ofof honestyhonesty andand humility.humility. sanctity, calamities ought to be avoided. JUST ASK ANY OF OUR THOUSANDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS. The Leviim44thth arealiyaaliya to give(19:1-6)(19:1-6) a portion TheThe ofpeoplepeople their THOUSANDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS. Maaser tocampedcamped the Kohanim. inin thethe Sinai SinaiThe Maaser desert oppo of the-- Leviim differssitesite thethe from mountain.mountain. the portions MosheMoshe of theas-- cendedcendedKohen, theasthe they mountain.mountain. do not have G-dG-d the toldtold holiness him: thattell JLEM 02-628-8282 I TLV 03-720-8000 therequires people. them If you to bewill eaten listen in to a specificMe, keep place My the people. If you will listen to Me, keep My tzviair.com
OU ISRAEL CENTER 97 and with purity. The Maaser is the property rob; or whom did I oppress, or from whose of the Levi, a benefit for public service. hand did I take a bribe..." This echoes Moshes' statement in this week's Torah As we have pointed out before, the por- reading: "I have not taken a donkey from a tions given to those doing the public single one of them, and I have not harmed service, the Kohanim and the Leviim are a single one of them." perfectly understandable. But the Torah is pointing out not only what they get, but The nation then gathers at Gilgal for a sec- what they don’t. Those in positions of reli- ond coronation of King Shaul. The nation gious power can easily use that position to offers sacrifices and rejoices together. extract wealth from a willing public. The Shmuel then speaks to the people: he asks Kohanim and Leviim are told what they are the people to testify that he never commit- to receive, portions of offerings, meaning, ted crimes against them and they confirm. this and no more. Not land, not gold and He discusses how Hashem helped them silver, not palaces. Food and food alone. every step of the way and then he rebukes them for wanting a flesh and blood king. HAFTORAH He assures them that G‑d will be with them if they follow in His ways, and reminds SAMUEL 11:14 - 12:22 them of the consequences they will face if they do not follow G‑d's word. The prophet Shmuel gathers together the Jewish people to install Shaul as King of Shmuel cautions the Bnei Yisrael that their Israel. During the course of his address to newly appointed king is not a replacement Bnei Yisrael he said to them, "Here I am; for God. He emphasizes that the people bear witness against me before G‑d and must continue to follow God and obey His before His anointed; whose ox did I take, commandments if they want themselves or whose donkey did I take, or whom did I and their king to be successful.
BY RABBI CHANOCH YERES A SHORT VORT Rav, Beit Knesset Beit Yisrael, Yemin Moshe
“Vayicach Korach… V’Datan V’Aviram” (Chapter 16, Pasuk 1) Many ask on the grammar of the first word of the Parsha, when it is written “And Korach took… with Datan and Aviram and On ben Pelet”, why the singular form of “Vayikach (he took)” instead of in the plural form of “Vayikhu (they took)”? It should take notice that Korach took these other people with him. The plural form should have been used here just as it is used in the next Pasuk “Vayakumu lifnei Moshe” “And (they) rose in the face of Moshe”. Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalisher (Poland 1800’s) answers that the use of the singular form of “took” is to reveal to us that the people, who sided with Korach in this rebellion against Moshe and Aharon, were not at all unified or united. Rather divided they were, each having their own personal aspirations and selfish egos that motivated them to argue with Moshe. “Vayikach” – Each one personally took to arguing for his own purpose. This division was the result of this evil plot. Shabbat Shalom
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רפואה שלמה [email protected] שלומית בת הרבנית חיה פערל WWW.SHELLYLANDAU.COM 052-385-9944 CHESED FUND Please help those less fortunate, desperate for assistance. Make checks (Israeli only) payable to LADIES, WE’RE BACK!!! "The Chesed Fund" The OU Intergenerational Women’s Choir - and send to DOROT ISRAEL CENTER CHESED FUND directed by Hadassah Jacob att. Menachem Persoff POB 37015 Jerusalem 91370 is accepting new members for a dynamite or donations can be brought to the post-Corona season!! OU Israel Center. For more information, call Hadassah 0523 847230 SHABBAT AFTERNOON PARSHA SHIUR with RABBI CHANOCH YERES will be held at the BACK GARDEN of the OU Israel Center Building at 5:00pm
MAZAL TOV to Binyamin & Nancy Chernofsky and family on the birth of a grandson, son of Yechezkel & Ortal Chernofsky of Neriya
OU ISRAEL CENTER 11