Parshat Korach 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha about Korach's rebellion with Moshe Rabbeinu. Korach questions Moshe Rabbeinu taking positions of authority for himself and for different members of his family including Aharon. His attack is summed up with the words (Chapter 16, Pasuk 3), Ki Kol Ha'Eidah Kulam Kedoshim U'Vesocham Hashem, the whole nation is holy with Gd dwelling in their midst. U'Madu'a Tisnasu al Kehal Hashem, why have you placed yourselves above the community of Hashem?
Rashi comments on the words that the whole nation is holy, that they all stood at Har Sinai and heard the word of Gd directly. Chazal teach they heard the first two commandments directly from Hashem; Anochi and Lo Yihyeh Lecha. And the Medrash Rabbah on Shir HaShirim (1,2,4) teaches that when they heard Anochi the desire and ability for learning Torah was planted in their hearts and when they heard the words Lo Yihyeh Lecha, the yetzer hara was removed from their hearts. This is why right before Matan Torah Hashem says to Bnei Yisrael (Shmos, Chapter 19, Pasuk 6), V'Atem Tihyu Li Mamleches Kohanim V'Goy Kadosh, You will be to me a nation of Kohanim and a holy nation. The Kohanim were the teachers of Torah (Ki Sifsei Kohein Yishmeru Da'as V'Torah Yevakshu M'Pihu sefer Malachi, Chapter 2, Pasuk 7), so that the designationof Mamleches Kohanim they received from the first Dibur, and Goy Kadosh they received from the second Dibur by having their yetzer hara removed and being Gd fearing and holy.
It seems that Korach was correct. The Jewish people were all very holy. Why was there a need for such a hierarchy? And Chazal teach that by Keriyas Yam Suf, Ra'asah Shifchah al Hayam Mah Shelo Ra'ah Hanavi Yechezkel. By the splitting of the Red Sea, a simple maidservant had a level of prophecy greater than the Navi Yechezkel. This shows the equality of the people of Israel in being on such a high level of holiness. Bnei Yisrael were a holy nation and Gd was certainly in their midst!
The end of the Gemara in Ta'anis (31A) states that in the future Hashem will make a circle for the Tzadikim in Gan Eden and He will be among them. And each person will point to Hashem as the pasuk says in sefer Yeshayahu (Chapter 25, Pasuk 9), V'Amar Bayom Hahu Hineh Elokeinu Zeh, And it will be on that day each will say this is Gd. Rav Tzadok explains that the words in the pasuk Hineh Elokeinu Zeh parallel the words in the pasuk by Shiras Hayam (Shemos, Chapter 15, Pasuk 2) Zeh Keili V'Anveihu. Just as by the splitting of the sea all of Bnei Yisrael had a great level of prophecy, so too L'Asid Lavo the Tzadikim will point to Hashem with the same level of prophecy and familiarity.
Rav Tzadok explains that Korach's mistake was that he didn't understand that this equality of Am Yisrael was temporary and will only return in the future. The level of prophecy of the maidservant wasn't maintained past experiencing the splitting of the sea. And even the implanting of Torah in their hearts and the removal of the yetzer hara was temporary as the Medrash continues and explains.
The Gemara in Ta'anis above states that in the future the Tzadikim will be in a circle. A circle has no beginning and no end. In a circle, all are equal and this will be the situation L'Asid Lavo. All will have Hashem in their midst and point to Him. But until then, all men are not equal; there are varying levels among people. And the greatest paradigm for what a Kohen is meant to be was Aharon.
The Torah described Am Yisrael at the time of Kabalas HaTorah as a Mamleches Kohanim and Goy Kadosh. Aharon was the paradigm of both. He lit the Menorah daily in the Mishkan though it did not need to be lit by him since he was the teacher of Torah Shebe'alpeh. He was the best illustration of Mamleches Kohanim. And he was humble and afraid to step forward and do the Avodah as Rashi states in the beginning of parshat Shmini, Lamah Atah Bosh Lekach Nivcharta. The Sefarim teach Lekach Nivcharta, this is precisely why you were chosen; Lamah Atah Bosh, for this quality of humility that you have. This is Aharon representing the qualities of a Goy Kadosh.
This was where Korach went wrong. Bnei Yisrael had the makings of all being entirely on the same level of holiness and worthy for any position. But the unique level of Kedushah Bnei Yisrael experienced by Keriyas Yam Suf and Matan Torah was not maintained. This will only return L'Asid Lavo with the circle of the Tzadikim. And in the meantime, it was Moshe and Aharon who were most appropriate to lead this nation and be the paradigm of the Mamleches Kohanim and Goy Kadosh.
Good Shabbos
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