This week we read of the twenty-four gifts that G-d allocated to the Kohanim (priests): first-born animals, first-fruits, face-bread, tithes of produce, first shearings, redemption money of first born sons and 18 more.
Rashi tells us (here 18:8) that these gifts are listed here as a result of how Korach's attempt to usurp Aaron and take the Priesthood into his own hands. That's why this Torah portion is called on his name.
But here there are a few questions.
Korach was an evil man, why should this entire weekly Torah portion be called on his name? It should have been named after the first word of the section; "Va'Yikach", as is done in other weekly sections. Or at least after the priestly gifts.
Second, these gifts have nothing to do with Korach; if he hadn't made trouble, they would still had been given to the Kohanim. So why list them here?
Here are three stories that might help us to understand.
1. About fifty Lubavitch Chassidim were sitting around a table listening intently to the Rebbe RShaB (Shalom Dovber, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe) when a stranger entered the room without knocking. Clean shaven with a small mustache and a neatly pressed suit he just quietly entered, approached the table and stood there. It was obvious he was a communist informer. The air was so tense in the room you could almost cut it with a knife.
1919 in Russia; the communist party began enforcing total power. Any meeting of more than three non-family members was forbidden. Teaching any doctrine other than communism was forbidden. This gathering (Farbrengen) was supposed to be a secret, but it was no wonder that the secret police knew about it; they seemed to know everything.
The Chassidim were scared; death suddenly hovered over their heads and danced before their eyes. They thought that they were safe with the Rebbe but now it looked like the end of the line. All eyes turned to the Rebbe for a sign to flee.
But the Rebbe was speaking quietly and intensely in Yiddish explaining how a seemingly simple Torah sentence related to a complex aspect of the Jewish soul and paid absolutely no attention to the newcomer. After a few seconds everyone was glued back into the real world of the Rebbe as though nothing ever happened.
The 'intruder' also seemed not to notice what was going on around him. He took a seat and sat almost motionless, listening intently and staring at the Rebbe as thought hypnotized. Once in a while he wiped what was perhaps a tear from his eye but he clearly understood and was hanging on every word.
The Farbrengen carried on through the night. They sang, drank vodka and the Rebbe spoke wondrous things. Until finally he indicated that it was over. They all stood, the Rebbe rose from his place, gave a quick glance around and left silently.
One of the older Chassidim turned to the stranger and gave him a look as to ask what is he doing here. He looked back and replied quietly.
"My father was a Chassid and when I was young, he took me to the Rebbe, I even went to a few Farbrengens and for a while I was also religious.
"Of course, today I know better. Communism has freed me and it will soon free the entire world as well. I am sure of it! I believe it with all my soul." His eyes became misty as though he was looking to the distance then abruptly narrowed his eyes in contempt and continued.
"I do not believe in your jealous G-d! Feh! Superstition! The Torah, the commandments, the rituals… it is all nonsense! Good for children and old ladies!! But I came here tonight because...well. Because the Rebbe is too real too true. I deny everything but I can't deny the Rebbe."
2. The second story is about a famous Zionist writer known as 'Echad HaAm'. His real name was Asher Ginsburg and like many of his colleagues, he had been brought up in a religious background and rejected it all. But unlike them he was a Talmudic genius and well versed in Jewish philosophy.
Nevertheless, his genius brought him to total reject Torah Judaism. He used to say that only those who are ignorant of the 'real' world could take the Torah seriously. But one who has a sense for the wisdom and pleasures of this world; music, art, literature, etc., would never be a religious Jew.
The story goes that someone once tried to convince him to visit the Rebbe ReShaB, but he wanted no part of it.
"Let the Lubavitcher Rebbe come visit me!" he scoffed. "I'm as versed in Talmud as he is and have as many followers as he does, perhaps more! Why should I visit him?" But he finally agreed, and the next time he was near Lubavitch a meeting was arranged.
After the meeting, the Rebbe was asked for his impression of his visitor, and he replied severely: "All I can say about him is that he knows what G-d is and he intentionally intends to rebel against Him."
Echad HaAm, when asked what he thought of the meeting answered exactly the opposite, "All I can say about the Rebbe is that he knows exactly what the world is...and he intends to rebel against it!"
3. The third story occurred more recently some fifty-five years ago. A prominent Knesset member of the National Religious party, Dr. Josef Berg had a private audience with the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Dr. Berg was a religious man, a Talmudic scholar and an accomplished academic with a doctorate or two in secular studies, but there were many areas that the Rebbe disagreed with him strongly and the Rebbe talked to him about these areas. (Later he especially aroused the Rebbe's ire by not taking a firm stand against the Zionist version of 'Who is a Jew', which has since caused incomprehensible confusion and loss of Jewish identity.)
When he finished the meeting and came out of the Rebbe's office, he was emotional and when asked what happened he explained.
"The Rebbe is a spiritual and intellectual giant; I've never imagined that there could be a person like that. It was an overwhelming experience!"
But when asked if the Rebbe had any effect on his views he replied emphatically, "Not at all! Every time I felt I was being swept away by the Rebbe's logic and holiness, I grasped my hands together under the table and kept repeating mentally to myself, 'I am Yosef Berg! I am Yosef Berg!'"
This answers our questions; why this is a Torah reading called Korach and why does it include the priestly gifts.
The Midrash explains that 'Korach' (which implies 'ice' and 'division') revealed the most powerful and destructive trait against Judaism; The opposition to true leaders.
This trait drove the Jews to reject not only Moses but King David and all the prophets thereafter which brought the destruction of the Temples and the horrible exile we are now in.
True Jewish leaders teach us to act like 'sons of G-d' (Deut. 14:1), a 'nation of priests' (Ex. 19:6) and 'servants' of Gd' (Lev. 25:55) namely to connect to the Creator and put infinite meaning into every instant of our lives.
Or, in the language of the Tanya; every Jew has two souls (two 'selves'); a normal soul and a G-dly soul. True Jewish leaders awaken the G-dly soul and inspire Jews to see the world from the G-dly perspective.
But Korach taught the opposite; Don't change! Use only the natural viewpoint.
(Perhaps call it "Popeye-ism". Looking at the world with one I (eye), seeing no depth, and concluding that 'I am what I am and that's all what I am').
He was for all egocentric endeavors; religion, self-expression, personal success, permissible pleasures (they were surrounded by miracles so it was difficult to deny G-d completely).
But he was completely COLD to the Creator. Like the people in the above three stories; they couldn't deny that the Rebbe was G-dly; a true Jewish leader, but they resisted all change.
And the Torah tells us how to correct this flaw: Through gifts to the Kohanim. Namely, by devoting our pleasures and accomplishments to true Jewish leaders. This opens a living channel to the infinite which that defeats and melts the coldness of Korach inside of each of us.
This is especially relevant to us today living in the age that the Lubavitcher Rebbe called the 'Generation of Moshiach' and the 'First generation of Redemption'.
The Moshiach is the ultimate example of the true Jewish leader. He will bring ALL the Jews back to true Torah Judaism and ALL the gentiles to worship ONLY the Creator (as we say in 'Alenu' thrice daily).
And even one more good deed, word or even thought can bring him.
Now is our chance to overcome the Korach inside of each of us open our eyes and see .....
Moshiach NOW!!