In this week’s parsha, parshas Korach, it is fitting for us to focus on a sacred insight found in the sacred teachings of the Chasam Sofer, zy”a. He comments on the opening words of the parsha (Bamidbar 16, 1): "ויקח קרח בן יצהר בן קהת בן לוי ודתן ואבירם בני אליאב ואון בן פלת בני ראובן"—Korach the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehas, the son of Levi, separated himself, with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eliav, and Ohn the son of Peles, sons of Reuven. He expresses his surprise at the fact that tzaddikim from shevet Levi would choose to name their son Korach. After all, it is the name of rasha—a truly wicked man—one of the eleven chieftains of Eisav, as documented in the following passuk (Bereishis 36, 15): "אלה אלופי בני עשו בני אליפז בכור עשו, אלוף תימן, אלוף אומר, אלוף צפו, אלוף קנז, אלוף קרח..." These are the chiefs of the children of Eisav: The descendants of Eisav’s firstborn Eliphaz—Chief Teiman, Chief Omar, Chief Tzifo, Chief Kenaz, Chief Korach . . .
The Chasam Sofer deduces from this that the name Korach caused him to tragically forfeit all of the kedushah he was in line to inherit from his holy progenitors. The name Korach, the name of one of Eisav’s wicked descendants, carried such a negative impact that it negated the force of kedushah that should have accrued to Korach from his three holy predecessors—Yitzhar, Kehas and Levi. After all, we are taught in the Gemara (Yoma 38b): לא מסקינן בשמייהו—we do not use the names of the wicked.
We see the unfortunate consequences that resulted from this error in parental judgment. Perhaps, this is why the Torah lists his lineage all the way back to Levi—to teach us that even though he had the strength of a three-ply cord, nevertheless, it unraveled rapidly, since he was given the name of a rasha. The name Korach cost him everything.
