The rebellion of Korach that dominates this parsha was the most devastating challenge to Moses’ leadership. As Nahmanides points out, it could only have happened after the sin of the spies and the subsequent condemnation of the generation who left Egypt, told that they would not live to enter the land. Building on their unrest and shattered hopes, Korach assembled…
…the men of rank would have been disappointed. Had the Reubenites won, Korach and the men of rank would have been disappointed. Had the men of rank achieved their ambition, Korach and the Reubenites would be left dissatisfied. The disordered, fragmented narrative sequence in this chapter is a case of style mirroring substance. This was a disordered, confused rebellion whose…
“You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” Num. 16:3 So said Korach to Moses. And Korach had a point. At the heart of his challenge is the idea of equality. That surely is a Jewish idea. Was…
…charge, what would you do to let them know how you felt? Parsha Puzzle Question: Who was Korach’s grandfather? Answer: It depends which Korach we are speaking about! In parshat Korach, Kehat would be Korach’s grandfather (Bamidbar 16:1). The other Korach is Eisav and Ahalivama’s son. This Korach’s grandfather is Yitzchak! (Bereishit 36:5). DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE FAMILY EDITION >…
The Parsha in a Nutshell This week we read the story of Korach and his followers who rebelled against Moshe and challenged his leadership. The entire generation of people who left Egypt with Moshe was now aware that they would not live to enter the land of Israel. Korach took advantage of their shattered hopes and feelings of frustration. He…
…humanlike were power struggles among the chimpanzees that in 1995, Newt Gingrich, Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, included de Waal’s work among the twenty-five books he recommended young congressional Republicans to read.[2] Korach was a graduate of the same Machiavellian school of politics. He understood the three ground rules. First you have to be a populist. Play on…
…of Korach. Rashi cites it in his commentary. It takes as its starting point a simple question. The story of the Korach rebellion begins with the words, “And Korach took” (Num. 16:1). What did he take? The verb requires but does not have an object. Rashi begins by stating what he believes is the plain sense. It means, “And Korach…
The Summary ● This summary is adapted from the essay written by Rabbi Sacks in 2012, available here. At the heart of the story of Korach is a question of equality. Korach states that “the whole community is holy” and then challenges why they would need men like Moshe and Aharon, the Kohen Gadol, as their leaders. That, surely, is…
The Parsha in a Nutshell This summary is adapted from this week’s main Covenant & Conversation essay by Rabbi Sacks, available to read in full via the left sidebar (or below, if you are viewing this on your phone) Korach understood the three ground rules for rebellion. First, you have to stir up people’s discontents and make it seem as…
…End a Rebellion”. So let’s begin at the beginning. Korach rebels. Korach and his followers rebel against Moses, and they challenge his leadership. “Kulam kedoshim uvtocham Hashem umadu’a titnassu al-kehal Hashem?” “We’re all holy. Why do you lift yourself up above us?” Bamidbar 16:3 ‘Why do you give yourself airs and graces? It’s too much.’ Korach rebels. Korach, son of…