What made Korach do something so crazy? Even the most egotistically minded person would have realized that his revolt against people who had been appointed by Hashem to lead the people, would certainly not succeed.
Rashi explains that Korach had some Divine insight. Prophetically, he could see that in future generations, there would be household names descended from him – well known to the people, who would be great individuals – like Samuel the Prophet, and many Levites who led services in the Temple.
Korach could contemplate on what we read in Psalm 99, which we recite in Shul on Friday night, ‘משה ואהרן בכהניו ושמואל בקוראי שמו’, ‘Moshe and Aharon were amongst those who were the Priests of Hashem and Shmuel amongst those who called on His Name’.
And notice, say Chazal in the Talmud, Shmuel in his generation, is considered to be as great as Moshe and Aharon were in their generation. And notice as well, that Shmuel by himself, is compared to Moshe and Aharon combined. And this is the type of impression that Korach had, as a result of which he thought that he was greater than Moshe and Aharon combined.
I believe that Korach’s mistake was rooted in the wrong definition that he gave to greatness. Korach thought that to be great means, you’ve got to be famous. No. He made a terrible, fatal error.
In our tradition of course, the truly great people are those who live selflessly for the sake of others, enriching our society through their piety. That’s why the Talmud talks about the ‘ל"ו צדיקים’, the 36 pious people, through whose merit the world continues to exist.
To be great, means being a mensch, being there for the sake of others, whether the world knows about you or not. Korach wanted us to remember him to this day because of his fame. Sadly, for him, we recall his name for the wrong reasons. And from him we can learn a lesson for us all, and that is, each and every one of us can be truly great.
Another Torah I heard from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, Rashi explains why Hashem sent the snakes as a punishment, because they talked against the Manna, the snake was punished for talking bad, another reason is because the snake tastes in everything a taste of earth, they talked against a heavenly food that tastes like everything they could imagine, the truth is that its all one meaning, the deepest depth is when one walks around talking bad on another person, seeing only bad in everything, then he tastes a “taste of earth” in everything, in all his life, but when someone has the holiest privilege to see only good in everyone, he can taste “the taste of all tastes”, his life is so sweet.
So let’s try to see only the best in everyone and let’s pray for our soldiers and healthcare professionals, and Chevra Kadisha members worldwide, for peace and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children and parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual and sweet Shabbat.