This week we read a story that should not have been told. It is about an evil man who turned the entire Jewish nation against Moses and Aaron and almost succeeded in ending Jewish history (G-d forbid).
His name was Korach, a charismatic Jew of impeccable credentials who had reached the peak of spiritual achievement, was beloved by all and even possessed genuine powers prophecy.
How and why could he turn everyone against Moses?! What did Moses do wrong? And what did Korach do right to earn such popularity?
Rashi (16:1) tells us that Korach publicly challenged Moses and asked; "Does a garment (Talit) that is totally blue wool strings (Tzitzis) legally require Tzitzis (an additional blue string)?" When Moses answered yes, Korach and followers scoffed, "Aha! How can one string of 'Tchailes be required for a garment that is TOTALLY Tchailes?"
(before wearing any four cornered garment (‘Tallit), adult male Jews are commanded to tie on each of its corners, four specially made strings (Tzitzis) one of which must be dyed a bluish color called 'Tchailes' (today, according to most opinions, this color does not exist).
After this, the people were his!
At first glance this is totally not understood. What was his point? And why was this argument about the Tzitzis so inspiring?
To understand this here is a story I read 15 years ago (HaYidion HaKfar #613)
This story takes place some 150 years ago in Poland as Reb Eliahu, a wealthy religious Jew in Krakow, discovered that his 18-year-old son Itzik had been lured away from Judaism.
At first the boy seemed to be a wholesome, enthusiastic observant Jew like all the others his age but then something happened. Itzik had been drawn into the snare of the 'enlightenment' movement that was spreading like wildfire throughout Europe and Eastern Russia.
Especially appealing to the youth, groups of 'enlightened' young men preached that because today we have intellect, culture, Philosophy and science, faith and trust in G-d were obsolete mistakes. Science, they claimed, has proved beyond doubt that there is no such thing as a G-d or a Creator to limit our deeds or to believe in or pray to.
Itzik ate it up. He was free! Finally he could be 'himself'. He returned home late one day and announced before his mother and father with a far-away look in his eye that the Torah and Judaism are not for him. He found new, truly open-minded friends and was beginning a new life.
His mother burst out into weeping and his father stood stunned and tried meekly to argue with him but to no avail. "Why didn’t you talk this over with us?" his father tried to think of something to say. "Do you really think that all these genius Rabbis; Moses, Isaiah, Rabbi Akiva have been mistaken? Judaism has been wrong all these years and your friends are the first to realize the truth??"
But nothing he said helped. Itzik had tasted 'freedom' and nothing would convince him to leave it.
Hoping and praying that he would change his mind his parents said nothing and waited. But, a few months later when Itzik announced that he had proposed marriage to the local druggist’s daughter it was the final straw. "The druggist’s daughter?! But the druggist isn’t Jewish?" both his parents shouted in unison.
His father totally lost his temper and told him to leave the house while his mother began crying even more intensely than the first time. But Itzik was not in the least moved. He just shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said "I knew you wouldn’t understand." Went to his room, packed a bag and left.
But his parents did give up. They asked around until someone gave them advice to go to the holy Rebbe Yhoshua of Belz and ask for a blessing.
They took the advice; traveled to Belz, got an audience with the Rebbe, told their pathetic story, the Rebbe asked a few questions, then became silent for a minute or so and finally answered. "Give him love! You must invite him back home. Ask him not to transgress anything in front of you and, don’t worry, pray, trust in G-d and everything will be alright. But try please to bring him here; I want to give him a present. A wedding present."
Meanwhile, all this time Itzik wasn’t having an easy time. After leaving his parent’s house, at first he lived with friends for a week or two but he felt he was intruding so he rented a room. But after a week his money ran out and, ashamed to ask his bride to be for money, he found himself on the streets sleeping on park benches. So when his parents located him and invited him to return home he jumped at the invitation.
It worked just as the Rebbe said; Itzik kept his gentile 'friends' but was so grateful to have a warm bed to sleep and so afraid to anger his father and be out in the streets again, that when his father suggested that he accompany him on his next trip to Belz he agreed.
A few days later Itzik found himself entering the Rebbe’s room together with his father. His father had been so friendly that he almost forgot the differences between them… but as soon as he stood before the Rebbe he remembered. "Oh oh!" he thought to himself. "For sure this old Rabbi is going to threaten me with fire and brimstone and curse me if I don’t call off the wedding!"
But it wasn't so. The Rebbe received him very cordially, blessed him with good news, said a short Torah idea and ended by saying, "I understand that you are about to make a big move in life. Well, I’d like to give you a small present to wear that will bless and protect you." And he handed him a small package.
After Itzik and his father got home they opened the package to reveal a 'Tallit Katan'; a small four cornered garment with tzitzis strings on each of the corners designed to be worn under one’s shirt or jacket.
Itzik put the garment aside and was grateful that the Rebbe didn't even mention his upcoming wedding.
A few weeks later Itzik's big day arrived. He thought about it for a few seconds and finally decided to take the Rebbe's advice. He wore the 'Talit Katan' under his shirt, dressed up in his tuxedo, put on his high hat and headed for the wedding hall.
His parents couldn’t bring themselves to attend the ‘wedding’. Rather they sat at home heartbroken. The only thing that comforted them was that the Belzer Rebbe did not seem worried, but that night they didn’t sleep. They sat awake saying Psalms.
Then, at three in the morning, their door burst open and Itzik staggered in like a wounded deer. His garments were dirty and torn, his face was swollen and bloody and he was obviously drunk.
He went to the sink, rinsed his face repeatedly with cold water, sat down heavily on a chair and began to explain what happened while pressing a towel to his bleeding face.
"After the ceremony we started drinking and dancing, things were pretty wild and suddenly some of them started saying things against the Jews. I don’t know why. They had no reason. I thought these people didn’t care but I was wrong. I began thinking that it would just die down but it didn’t. The women were laughing and well I just kept quiet and pretended to be one of them.
Then my shirt must have opened because someone saw the tzitzits on that garment the Rebbe gave and screamed out dirty Jew and gave me a punch in the face. Then another did the same. Someone knocked me to the ground another called me another name. It was a miracle but somehow, I found myself outside the hall. I hid from them for a while and, well, thank G-d, I escaped. Wow! Did I make a mistake! I mean, if the Rebbe hadn't given me that present, I might have become one of them!"
This answers our question. The purpose of the Tzitzis is to show how G-d cares about details.
The Jews were chosen to teach the world that G-d exists and how He creates and enlivens everything. But most of all … how He cares.
How, although He is ‘above' and encompasses all existence even the highest heavens; He also cares about every detail. Especially every person.
But it’s all the same G-d. His 'encompassing' aspect is symbolized by the 'Tallit' garment while His 'caring' aspect; is symbolized by the 'Tzitzis' strands.
Korach disagreed about the details. He stressed only the garment; the first ‘surrounding’ aspect. Namely that G-d doesn’t care about details; Everyone is equal and Moses and Aaron have no right to be rulers.
That is why he scoffed at the idea of hanging Tzitzits strings on a garment that is already totally made of Tzitzits strings’.
But he was wrong. In fact, G-d cares about and reacts to all the details of the world. He WANTS Moses (and the Moses of each generation) to be 'above' and guide the Jewish people and He wants us, through the details of the Torah and Mitvot, to make every detail of the world holy.
This is especially relevant to us today; we are (as the Lubavitcher Rebbe said many times) the generation of Moshiach. True all men are equal but Moshiach (who will be a great guide like Moses) will bring out the differences in each of us as well.
Moshiach will be the opposite of Korach: he will show how each human is unique and possesses some special quality that is essential to the world.
Then, when we see that each person is precious and necessary for the welfare of all mankind, there will be true appreciation and love between each and all members of the human race. The opposite of the strife and contention caused by Korach (see Avot 5:17).
And, as the Rebbe said repeatedly; this should happen at any moment. We are standing on the merits of thousands of years of Jewish service, hopes, prayers and suffering. It all depends on us! Just one more good deed, word or even good thought, can bring …….
Moshiach NOW!!