In this week’s Parsha Korach argued against Moshe Rabbeinu, and tried to undermine his authority and the positions Moshe had appointed to other members of the tribe of Levi.
Moshe Rabbeinu explained that he hadn’t decided anything himself. Every position that had been appointed was by Hashem’s commandment.
In order to battle against Moshe, Korach convinced Dasan, Aviram and two hundred and fifty members of the Sanhedrin (the High Court) from Shevet Reuvain.
Moshe Rabbeinu showed great restraint when responding to their arguments. He tried to convince Korach to back down. He explained that only one person could become a Kohen Gadol. If all two hundred and fifty members of the Sanhedrin would bring the Ketores (spice offering) and try to become Kohen Gadol, only the one that Hashem would chose and had already chosen would remain alive. The rest would all die. But sadly they never followed his advice.
Moshe Rabbeinu also sent a message to Dasan and Aviram trying peacefully to convince them to peacefully step down.
Although Korach and his following had set up an opposition party challenging Moshe’s authority and even after spending all night given lectures belittling Moshe to Klal Yisrael and making fun of Mitzvos he had given to Klal Yisrael; Moshe Rabbeinu never lost his composure. He remained calm and was patient.
One of the important and vital traits for anyone’s success but particularly a leader is patience. Whether a parent, a Rebbi, a teacher, a boss; without patience one cannot expect any major success.
The two following stories can give us an eye-opening to the power of patience. (Names have been changed.)
Yosef was an orphan from Iran that arrived in Eretz Yisrael with the Aliyah of the famous ‘Yaldei Teheran’ – ‘the children of Teheran.’ Yosef was one of the few lucky children that ended up in Bnei Brak in a religious school and therefore had a religious education, similar to how he had grown up back in Iran.
Although Yosef was nearly Bar Mitzva, his standard of learning was very poor, far behind the rest of the boys in his grade. However much he tried, Yosef couldn’t keep up with the pace of his classmates. To be honest he couldn’t even understand the basic Gemara, never mind any of the complex explanations and commentaries the Rebbi told over.
One day the Rebbi had very exciting news for the boys. They were going to be tested by Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, the Chazon Ish. The boys were very excited to merit a visit to the Jewish sage’s home and to spend some time in his presence.
Behind closed doors in the Principal’s office the problem of Yosef was discussed. There was no way he would be able to answer any questions that the Chazon Ish would ask. It was decided that on arriving at the Chazon Ish’s home, the Rebbi would whisper quietly to the Chazon Ish Yosef’s story and that way avoid Yosef any embarrassment.
But when the Rebbi arrived with the boys by the Chazon Ish he was so emotional and excited he completely forgot about Yosef.
The Chazon Ish took his time asking every boy a question, one by one in order. When he got to Yosef the Rebbi gasped, but it was too late. The Chazon Ish had already asked Yosef a question. Yosef had no clue of the answer and was just looking blankly in the air.
The Chazon Ish waited a few moments, noticed Yosef’s reaction and slowly started giving the answer himself. The Chazon Ish then asked to have someone bring him a Gemara Kiddushin. He opened up the Gemarah to Daf 30: and softly called Yosef over to him.
“Yosef,” said the Chazon Ish, “let’s study this Gemara together.” And the Chazon Ish started learning the following Gemara together with Yosef translating and explaining word by word, slowly and softly with the sweet Gemara tune.
“Ayyyyy,” sang the Chazon Ish in the Gemara tune, “Our Rabbi learned that Torah is compared to the medicine of life. … So too Hashem told Klal Yisrael, “I created the Yetzer Hara – the evil inclination, and I created Torah as a medicine against it and if you study Torah you won’t fall into the hands of the Yetzer Hara.”
“Yosef,” said the Chazon Ish, “tell me, did you understand the Gemara we just learned?” With such a Rebbi, with such patience and warmth who wouldn’t understand? Yosef nodded softly to the Chazon Ish.
“If so, let me see. Yosef, can you tell us over the Gemara?” Yosef took the Gemara and started saying over the Gemara. The Chazon Ish sat there listening with full concentration to Yosef’s Shiur. When he finished he looked at the Chazon Ish. The Chazon Ish sat there his face beaming with joy.
“Look at our Yosef,” the Chazon Ish said looking at the Rebbi and all the boys, “we have here a future great Talmid Chacham. Yosef heard the Gemara just now for the first time and look how well he understood it the first time. Not only that, look how brilliantly he told us over the Gemara.”
Then facing the Rebbi the Chazon Ish continued, “You should know that you have a star student, such sharp understanding, such clarity in telling over, make sure to watch over our Yosef one of the future great Talmidei Chachamim.” The Chazon Ish continued showering praises on Yosef till the boys left.
A few years later the Rebbi went on Simchas Torah to dance in the famous Ponevez Yeshiva. In many Shuls the honors of saying Ata Hareisa, Chassan Torah and Chassan Bereishis are sold to the highest bidder. In some Shuls the price can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars and even more. In Ponevez the custom was also to sell these honors, but not for money. They were sold for pages of Gemara to be studied within a couple of months.
The Rebbi heard the bidding start, ten dapim (pages), twenty, fifty, one hundred, two hundred, two hundred and fifty, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred. Five hundred first time, five hundred second time, five hundred the third time. Sold. And then the Rebbi heard a familiar name. Five hundred pages of Gemara to be studied within two months was bought by……..YOSEF.
The foresight and patience of the Chazon Ish.
Shimon was very disturbed by the behavior of Moshe. His behavior was inappropriate and inacceptable. He decided that instead of reprimanding Moshe himself, he went to see their Rebbi, Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Rosenbaum, the Nadvorner Rebbe. Shimon waited in line outside the Nadvorner Rebbe’s study until he was called. He entered the Rebbe’s study.
“Rebbe, I don’t want to speak Lashon Hara but I recently noticed the inappropriate behavior of Moshe and something has to be done.”
“My dear Shimon,” said the Rebbe, “I have already noticed it for the past fifteen years.”
“Fifteen years,” said Shimon in amazement, “so why hasn’t the Rebbe said anything to him?”
“I will tell you Shimon. I have been thinking for the past fifteen years what is the best way to put it right. I am not sure that approaching him is the best way and even if yes I am still unsure how to tell him. Moshe I have patience, I am waiting until I am certain that what I do to reprimand him is the best way, correct and won’t cause him any unnecessary hurt.”
