By Yehuda Bachana.
| Numbers 16:1-18:32 | 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22 | 2 Timothy 2:14-3:9
Parashat Korach: Selfless or selfish leadership?
Shalom dear friends,
This week, we’re studying a very challenging Torah Portion. At the same time, our last 2 weeks have also been quite challenging, and stirred up stress, fear, and lots of sleepless nights that were interrupted by warnings (of incoming missile-threats), sirens, overhead explosions and light flashes, and seeking shelter until we were told the threat was over. This all added to the restlessness of the kids who were stuck together in a small space under stress one time too many, until one calmer night they couldn’t fall asleep and wondered, “when’s the siren coming?”
And yet, simultaneously, we experience a great sigh of relief as we witness the unimaginable come true! We’ve just endured a miracle of Biblical proportions that feel like the birth pangs in preparation for Messiah’s return. At this point, we can only pause to breathe and give thanks to God for everything!
Operation ‘Rising Lion’
The background for Operation ‘Rising Lion’ is military intelligence indicating that the Iranian regime was approaching the point of no return where it could achieve nuclear weapons in a short time. The IDF spokesperson revealed classified evidence of Iran’s secret plan to develop nuclear weapons. During the 12-day Operation ‘Rising Lion’, the Air Force (of Israel & the USA), intelligence agencies (of Western countries), and the air defense systems have achieved a tremendous and inconceivable victory in the war against Iran’s nuclear threat!
Netanyahu’s Speech
Tuesday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech marking the conclusion of Operation Rising Lion, which he described as a historic operation that’ll be recorded in the annals of Israel’s wars. He listed the achievements of the operation, including the elimination of Iranian command leadership and senior nuclear scientists, the destruction of nuclear facilities, the demolition of headquarters and symbols of power, and the elimination of hundreds of Iranian regime personnel. Netanyahu stated that Israel destroyed the three nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak, and the United States destroyed the underground facility in Fordow. He added that the Iranian nuclear archive, which contained all Iranian knowledge on producing an atomic bomb, was also destroyed. He personally thanked all the heads of organizations and commands that participated in the operation and praised the people for their resilience.
Superpower Iran
Over the years, we’ve learned from senior defense officials that Iran is “a completely different story.” It’s a superpower with unlimited capabilities, feared by the entire Middle East. It has a scientific, technological, and academic infrastructure of the highest level, vast territory, endless natural resources, and a huge army! We were warned and frightened that we shouldn’t mess with Iran and tread lightly and operate under the radar, ‘not to wake the beast’. Was that exaggerated?
Sadly enough, all of those warnings were actually correct. We also remember the warnings about Hezbollah’s strength some 8 months ago. Those warnings were real, too. And even then, their strongholds collapsed. I’m convinced with all my heart, that none of the security leaders imagined such a successful outcome. Instead of a thousand things that could have gone wrong, a thousand different things worked out in a marvelous and rare way. A revealed miracle.
Taking Threats Seriously
Why did the State of Israel launch this attack against the Iranian superpower? Because we learned on October 7th, that when an enemy says they want to destroy us, they probably mean it.
Repeatedly, Iran has declared that it wants to destroy the State of Israel and has acted with determination to acquire nuclear weapons. Israel cannot allow Iran to acquire such a weapon, because such a weapon (or any other effective weapon), would first be aimed at Israel, and then at the West. It’s because they see us as ‘infidels’, and that it’s their duty to fight and even to erase us. I’m really not making this up, as they declare this publicly. The question is whether we believe enemies like Iran will act on threatening intentions they continue to utter…
Israel has learnt the hard (and heartbreaking) way—through the countless losses of so many of our innocent civilians—-that if an enemy says they want to kill and destroy, they will do everything to make that happen.
Let me remind you that the Iranian parliament passed a law in 2021, stating that by the year 2041 the State of Israel should be destroyed. Enormous sums of money were transferred specifically for the very purpose of wiping out Israel. In addition, a large clock that counts down to Israel’s destruction, was placed in Tehran.
12 Intensive Days
Now, for 12 intensive days, we’ve been watching with growing astonishment how this mighty superpower with secret, fortified nuclear reactors, and thousands of ballistic missiles that are spread across a wide variety of distant bases & are equipped with warheads that weigh over half a ton that could cause tremendous destruction… We watched all of these terrifying matters simply crumble before our shocked eyes, while the Israeli Air Force moved through Iranian airspace as if it were our own territory…
Praise To God
Without a doubt, we’re witnessing great miracles and wonders. Immediately and without further delay, we fully thank and praise the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Who has not abandoned His people. He is with us, Emmanuel.
Here, we’re reminded of the traditional Prayer for the State of Israel, that we pray every Shabbat at our local congregation: “Heavenly Father, Israel’s Rock and Redeemer, bless the State of Israel, the first flowering of our redemption (…)”. Truly, He Who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Parashat Korach
This week’s Torah Portion is challenging, and comes along with a wide range of interpretations. Some simplify the story about Korach, and paint it in stark black-and-white terms of good and evil, by viewing Moses and Aaron as the good guys, and Korach, Dathan, & Abiram as the villains.
Others view the picture in a more nuanced way, and view Korach as a positive figure who was leading others in the right direction. They claim that, since Korach was part of the opposition, he aligned himself with other dissenters (like Dathan and Abiram) who represent corruption, evil, and disqualification. This viewpoint sees this alliance as the main reason for Korach’s downfall.
Bitter Fruit of ‘Disinformation’
Korach and his men (setting Dathan and Abiram aside for a moment) did not see themselves as disqualified or corrupt. Yes, they were the opposition, and yes, they saw & understood the situation differently from Moses and Aaron. But they also believed in the righteousness of their cause. Parashat Korach portrays the bitter fruit of ‘disinformation:’ when you’re surrounded by bitter people who complain, gossip, and point fingers at the leadership—that affects you, and causes you to start believing this distorted viewpoint.
Let’s be honest: the desert-journey included some of the lowest points for the Israelites. From that uncomfortable place, their rebellion wasn’t much of a surprise. The People of Israel were literally between a rock and a hard place. They couldn’t advance into the Promised Land, and those who tried by force failed and died, like we saw in last week’s Torah Portion. And so, all that remained was a slow death in the scorching-hot desert, until the last of that generation would die, before they could even move forward…
Today that sounds extremely harsh. When I go camping on the beach, one or two days is enough: sand gets everywhere, and every bite gets that sandy crunch. Sand sticks to your sweat, gets into your shoes and sleeping bag. It’s a scratchy nightmare! Now, how do you deal with the bitter news: that you’re staying in the desert, on a constant journey, a never-ending relocation until your death (in a pile of that very same sand)?
We were promised trees and to inherit a garden, and imagined a cool glass of wine in the shade of a leafy fig tree… That dream was shattered against the thorns of dry and dusty desert shrubs. That’s the background for the rebellion, at a point where people felt there was nothing left for them to lose.
Desert-journey: A Good Start
The desert-journey is where the People of Israel lost their stability. Even though at first, the Hebrew desert-enterprise did begin with the generous contribution and partnership as we built the House of God, together. God gladly accepted the handiwork and the giving that came from a loving and pure heart. At first, we did succeed and created a mutual partnership through national responsibility and even gave more than was needed (until Moses even had to stop all the giving and service by force!)
Bitterness Of The Opposition
And yet now, due to the obsession of the opposition, we see national disintegration—the community dream vanishes like a puff of smoke. The tragic thing is that Korach, his followers, and a very large part of the people were convinced and believed in the righteousness of their cause. As proof, Korach and his men agreed to the test of the incense censers, which was meant to prove justice. I’m not sure they realized this was a test of life-and-death, but all of them showed up with their censers at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, to face God for the test. This is a confirmation that they truly believed in their cause and that God would stand with them. People believed the lies they heard, that Moses and Aaron were exploiting them and ruled over them in a harsh way.
Selfless vs. Selfish Leadership
Then, what was the truth? Was the leadership of Moses and Aaron selfless or selfish? Let’s examine: a bit later on in Parashat Korach, God tells Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation because He’s about to destroy the rebels. Moses and Aaron immediately reply by falling on their faces in prayer and essentially telling God “no.” (Numbers 16:20–22). And so, the leadership of Moses and Aaron was founded on self-sacrifice.
Aaron’s Selflessness
Then there’s a verse whose depth of sacrifice we might not always grasp: “So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.” (Numbers 16:47-48) We tend to read this verse in passing and move on.
Wait, who ran (without hesitation) towards the fire and the plague? Aaron did. The same priest who’d lost his two sons, Nadav and Avihu, to a divine punishment through the fire of God, now doesn’t flee from the fear and the angel of death; but rather, runs directly (and with great courage) towards the heart of God’s punishment, to stand between the living and the dead as a buffer to stop the plague.
I’m convinced Aaron didn’t believe he was immune or that he wouldn’t be harmed. A man who has lost so much like Aaron, does not think he’s invulnerable. Instead, Aaron’s taking an extraordinary risk for others. God, Who examines the heart, finds Aaron righteous.
Here we see the essence of the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They didn’t come to exploit the people. On the contrary, they put the people before their own wishes and needs. They loved the people, and even when the people sinned, they’re willing to risk themselves for the sake of the people.
The Water Jug Dilemma
In light of this, I’d like to end with a story from the Talmud about a water jug dilemma:
Two people were walking along a path, and one of them had a jug of water. If both drink from it—there won’t be enough and they’ll both die. But if only one drinks, he’ll survive and reach the town.
Ben Petora interpreted: it’s better that both drink and die, rather than for one to witness the death of the companion. Until Rabbi Akiva came and taught: “That your brother may live beside you.” (Leviticus 25:36), and explained: “Your life takes precedence over the life of your companion.”
A Third Option
Many interpretations have been offered regarding this story, and discuss why Ben Petora interpreted it this way & Rabbi Akiva in yet another way. However, there’s a third alternative that hasn’t been discussed yet: it’s possible that the one holding the jug might be allowed (or even expected) to give the entire jug to his friend and die himself.
This third interpretation, the idea of self-sacrifice, is explained to us by Paul:
“I am speaking the truth in Messiah—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.” (Romans 9:1–4)
Heaven forbid that we read these verses as something ordinary. I see the spirit of Paul’s self-sacrifice in Aaron who ran into the plague, and through his body and courageous heart, stopped the plague. Of course, the ultimate act of sacrifice is the story of Yeshua the Messiah, Who gave Himself for us: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)