In last week’s parsha, Moses sent spies to check out the land of Israel, and brought back a report that started some serious trouble! This week, Moses and Aaron are in for another major headache when their cousin Korach gets jealous - and leads a rebellion against them!
No Fair!
Moses and Aaron had a wealthy cousin named Korach. He was one of the Levites (Levi'im) who had the job of carrying the Holy Ark (aron). He was also the leader of the group of Levites who sang in the Tabernacle (Mishkan). Those were very special honors... but Korach wasn't satisfied. He was jealous of Moses and Aaron because they had higher positions than he did.
One day, Korach said to his wife, "It's not fair! What makes Moses and Aaron so special? Are they smarter than I am? No! Why can't I be the leader of the Jewish people instead of Moses? Why can't I wear the clothes of the High Priest (Kohein Gadol) instead of Aaron? Why should they get all the honor?"
"You're absolutely right!" answered Korach's wife. "It isn't fair at all! You are as great as they are. Anything they can do, you can do better!"
"Yeah!"
"In fact, you said yourself that a descendant of yours will be as great as Moses and Aaron."
"That's true. I saw this through Divine inspiration (ruach hakodesh). The prophet Samuel will be born through me! That means that I am also great, and G-d will protect me from any harm."
It sounded logical to Korach, but he was wrong. Even the merit of Samuel the Prophet (Shmuel HaNavi) would not be enough to save him!
On the Campaign Trail
Korach got himself so worked up about things, that he became convinced that he should take over as the leader of the Jews... and he went out to win people over to his side. He went around giving powerful speeches, trying to convince people that Moses was unfairly keeping all of the important jobs in his own family.
"Attention, everyone!" Korach said to the crowds that gathered around him to listen. "I have something important to say! How many of you are the first-born in your families?"
Many hands shot up.
"And how many of you are disappointed that you are not able to do the service in the Tabernacle?"
The people put their hands up even higher.
"Right! And I understand exactly how you feel! My friends, we've been cheated. Our honor has been stolen away from us. Moses told us that no one but the Levi'im and Kohanim can work in the Tabernacle. He says that G-d was the one who decided that Aaron should be Kohein Gadol, and that the sons of Kehat should get the honor of carrying the holiest objects. But it's all a big lie! He just wants his own family to have all of the power. Do you think G-d would do something as unfair as giving all of the high positions to one family? Of course not! G-d knows that every Jew is holy, and we are all equal."
The crowd erupted into shouts of agreement.
"People! It was Moses who made these unfair decisions, and he is the one whom we must fight against - in the name of justice! Follow me, and you will all have the chance to do the holy work in the Tabernacle! Now, who is with me?"
Many people waved their hands in the air, calling out, "Count me in, Korach!" and "I'm behind you all the way!"
The Big Debate
Korach threw a big, fancy party and invited everyone to come listen to him speak more about what was wrong with Moses. The place was packed and the wine flowed like water. People ate and drank and cheered on Korach's words.
"The time has come for us to stand up for what is right! Are you with me? Are you ready to claim the honor that is rightfully yours?"
The crowd roared with applause, and 250 men decided then and there to join Korach's rebel group. Among them were Datan and Aviram, the no-goodniks who constantly made trouble by arguing with Moses about every little thing. Korach's uprising was right up their alley!
Korach gave each of his new followers a gift - a specially made prayer shawl that was completely blue.
When Moses saw Korach and his men dressed in their blue prayer shawls, he was confused. He knew that a prayer shawl needed to have one blue thread on each corner - but a completely blue prayer shawl...?
"Moses!" called Korach. "We have a question! Does a blue prayer shawl need to have a blue thread attached to each corner?" "Yes," said Moses.
"But why? That's ridiculous! You're just making the rules up as you go along! What makes you think that you and your family should be the only ones in charge? For example, why is your brother, Aaron, the only one who is allowed to offer incense (ketoret) in the Kodesh HaKedashim (Holy of Holies)?"
"That is what G-d commanded," replied Moses. "It wasn't my decision."
"Baloney, Moses! We all heard G-d's voice at Mount Sinai. Every Jew is holy! Every Jew should have the right to offer incense! We all deserve the privileges of a High Priest (Kohein Gadol)!"
When he heard Korach's shocking words, Moses fell to the ground in complete hopelessness. He couldn't even bring himself to pray to G-d this time - he was afraid to hear what G-d would say.
Finally, Moses picked himself up and faced the angry crowd.
"Korach," said Moses, "you are a Levite. You do have special privileges. You help the priests (Kohanim), and you sing beautiful songs in the Tabernacle! That should make you very happy! Not everyone can be a priest (Kohein) - that's just the way G-d decided to do things."
(Imagine an orchestra that has only violins, all playing the same part. Pretty boring, right? But when there are violins, cellos, flutes, piccolos, tubas, French horns, clarinets, saxophones, kettledrums... and when each instrument plays its own part, and no one else's... then they can make beautiful music!)
"Oh, don't give me that nonsense!" Korach shot back at Moses. "I've had enough of your lies!"
"Korach, I sincerely hope that by tomorrow you will come to your senses and return to the right path. I fear for what may happen to you if you don't."
"Give me a break, Moses..."
"I really hope you will listen to what I'm saying to you. But if you insist, then we'll try a little experiment. Come to the Tabernacle tomorrow - you and all of your followers - carrying pans of incense to burn on the altar."
"Ahh, now you're talking! Go on..."
