Parashat Korach 5768

Our Torah Portion, Parashat Korah, opens with news of an open rebellion amongst the Israelites. This week, two separate groups attempt to overthrow Aaron and Moses. These rebels, backed by hundreds of supporters, seek to attain places of power for themselves.

According to Rabbi Rachel Cowan, when we look at the character of Korah, one of the rebel leaders, we see an individual consumed by his own arrogance, seeking to promote his own self-interests. Korah capitalizes on the fears and complaints of the people (which we have heard in great detail in past weeks) and uses these weaknesses as a pretext to challenge the ultimate authority of God. To this end, Korah seeks to overthrow Aaron’s ordained place as priest. It is out of a place of self-centeredness, and not out of true concern for the divine or the Israelite people, that Korah raises himself above the community and demands a place of power.

Let us contrast Korah with Moses. Moses, upon hearing Korah’s words, falls on his face in an act of meekness. Moses never asked for the leadership role he was given; he was chosen by God and reluctantly accepted the post. Verse after verse of Torah illustrates Moses’ humility.

Rabbi Cowan suggests that Moses realizes all to well that Korah is not threatening his power, but God’s power. Moses has the wisdom not to engage Korah in battle or to argue his own merits with him. Instead, Moses devises a simple test. He asks Korah and his company to fill their fire pans with incense and bring them before God (a task that only Aaron and the priests are able to perform), literally daring them to challenge God’s authority head-on. Moses has the wisdom to realize: “This is not about me.”

One can imagine God’s response to Korah’s band of self-serving rebels! God is so filled with anger at the sight of Korah’s insincere offering that God instructs Moses and Aaron to step back and let the entire people be destroyed. Once again, Moses acts from a place of humble service. He falls on his face. He will not leave his people. Ignoring his own safety, Moses argues on their behalf. In the end, the Israelites are not destroyed, but God consumes Korah and his followers in a fire. The winning ideology is clear.

How, though, can we best hear this message today? Rabbi Cowan explains, “We, too, live with an ongoing conflict between an ‘inner Moses’ and an ‘inner Korah’—between humility and arrogance, between selflessness and selfishness” (Women’s Torah Commentary 911).
Each of us has an inner-Moses and an inner-Korah. We have moments in which we act in our own self-interest and moments in which we rise above our own needs and truly serve others.

On this Shabbat, let us reflect on our actions in the world. When do we act from a place of Korah and when do we act from a place of Moses? Are there patterns in our behavior? Is their room for both of these inner-selves? Is there value to be found in both of them?