Sanhedrin 110b:
(Beraisa): Korach was swallowed - "va'Tivla Osam v'Es Korach"; He was also burned - "v'Esh... va'Tochal Es ha'Chamishim u'Masayim Ish", and Korach with them. (He was one of the 250; alternatively, "Es" includes him.)
Rava: "V'Im Bri'ah Yivra Hashem" - Moshe said 'if You already created Gehinom, fine (you can send Korach there). If not, create it!'
Question: Surely he did not ask HaShem to create it now. "Ein Kol Chadash Tachas ha'Shemesh"! Correction: Rather, 'if the opening to Gehinom is here, fine. If not, move it to here (to swallow him)!'
Rabah bar bar Chanah: Once I was travelling, and our guide showed us where Korach and his cohorts were swallowed. There were two crevices. Smoke was exuding. The guide soaked some wool in water, put it on the end of a spear and put it inside; it became singed. I was able to hear them saying 'Moshe and his Torah are true, they (Korach and his congregation) are liars.'
The guide: Every 30 days Gehinom returns them to here, like meat in a frying pan, and they say this.
Rashbam: Every 30 days implies each Rosh Chodesh.
What is the reason that Korach and his group are returned every Rosh Chodesh?
- Ritva: Every Rosh Chodesh (a small day of judgment) they are judged again.
- Maharsha: Korach’s main contention was that only one Cohen Gadol yet everyone was holy and eligible to be a Cohen Gadol. Thus, the office of Cohen Gadol should rotate among the 12 tribes for 12 months. Thus, his punishment fit the crime in that he sought to create a new Cohen Gadol each month, he is judged again each month.
- Iyun Yaacov: The argument of Korach (that all 250 people were fitting to lead the Jews) had already been addressed by the Moon in the beginning of Creation. According to the Medrosh, at the beginning of Creation, the Sun and the Moon were created of equal size to rule the firmaments. The Moon said it was not correct for two to wear one crown and volunteered to be reduced in size (and solve the problem). Since HaShem had accepted the plea of the Moon (HaShem commanded a Chatos be offered each Rosh Chodesh) this already disproved the argument of Korach. Therefore, each Rosh Chodesh, Korach and his group are judged again testifying to the truth of Moshe (and of the Moon) and that his argument is not correct.
- Iyun Yaacov (2nd explanation): According to the Medrosh, Korach presented cases: does a Tallis completely of Techelis need Tzitzis of Techelis to be permitted; does a room full of Sefri Torah need a mezuzah; is a person who is completely covered with Tzrasas, temah? Moshe answered each case according to the law of Torah. Korach responded that this law cannot be from Heaven and Moshe is not a true prophet. Korach believed that Torah from Heaven must have follow logic and reason in every law and did not understand that human thought is not ultimately involved in mitzvos. Thus, we learn from Parah Adumah that all mitzvos are decrees of Heaven. The same applies to the incident with the Moon. Even though the Moon presented a logical argument (which Hashem agreed with); nevertheless, since the Moon attempted to refute HaShem based on logic, the Moon was “punished” with its reduction in size. Thus, specifically on Rosh Chodesh, when the moon’s state is in its smallest size, then Korach is returned for judgment.
- Bais Levi: Every 30 days Korach and his group are returned to Gehinom. And this is understood according to the Rambam’s understanding of Teshuvah. A Baal Teshuvah must regret the decision to sin and resolve to never do the sin again. The previous bad decision to sin engrains into one’s heart and tendencies to sin again. Thus, a Baal Teshuvah must work to remove all the residue of the sin. The only way to know if one can withstand the same situation is to resist the situation for a period of thirty days. Korach’s sins are so engrained he needs to return every thirty days to remove additional levels of residue from the sins.
