Our Sages teach that when Korach challenged Moses’ leadership, he presented him with three provocative questions: Is a house full of holy books required to have a mezuzah? Is a tallit made entirely of blue (techelet) required to have tzitzit (white fringes with a blue thread)? And since “the entire community, all of them, are holy...why do you raise yourselves above G-d’s assembly?”
These arguments of Korach are meant to warn us against the fundamental error they contain, so that we do not fall into the same trap. A Jew must know that even a house full of holy books requires a mezuzah, even a tallit made entirely of techelet requires tzitzit, and even when “the entire community is holy,” there must still be a Moses.
The Influence of Torah
A house full of holy books represents a learned Jew, well-versed in the entire Torah. Yet, a mezuzah is still necessary. The mezuzah is affixed to the entrance of the house and testifies that the entire house is permeated with the spirit of Torah. This means it is not enough for the mind to study Torah; rather, the Torah must shape the person, so that it is evident in all his limbs that they are imbued with holiness.
It is possible for the mind to be filled with Torah, for a person to be a “house full of holy books”, but the Torah may not actually influence the person himself, and when people pass by, they do not notice that he is truly filled with Torah. The purpose of the mezuzah is that when people pass by the house, they immediately see that it is a Jewish home. So too, the influence of Torah on a person should be visible.
More than General Commitment
The tallit surrounds the entire person. A “tallit made entirely of techelet” represents a situation where a Jew begins his day with a general and all-encompassing commitment to G-d: “I thank You... for returning my soul to me.” But the person is satisfied with this general commitment and does not dedicate every detail of his soul and every limb of his body to G-d.
Thus comes the argument: since there is a “tallit made entirely of techelet,” why is there a need for tzitzit, for a specific, detailed commitment to G-d?
To this Moses responds that even a “tallit made entirely of techelet” requires tzitzit. Indeed, the general commitment at the start of the day is the foundation, but it must be strengthened and ensured through specific decisions that touch every detail of life.
A Guide Is Needed
And from here comes the third mistake: “The entire community, all of them, are holy... why do you raise yourselves...?” Since every Jew is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and part of a “holy nation,” he feels he can rely on his own intellect and does not need to consult a Rabbi or attach himself to a spiritual leader who will supervise him so that he does not stray from the right path.
The Torah teaches us that even though “everyone is holy,” there is still a need for Moses. As the faithful shepherd of Israel, he knows and recognizes the trials and difficulties a Jew may face, and in order that a Jew not be swayed by self-interest or personal bias in life’s questions, he must seek a Rabbi or spiritual leader with whom he can consult and examine whether he is truly on the right path.
This is the lesson that everyone should learn from the dispute of Korach.
(from the teachings of the Rebbe, Torat Menachem, vol. 40, translated from Sichat HaShevua)
