Enhancing Spirituality: Appreciating Torah and Its Scholars
What incited Korach to challenge Moshe Rabeinu and Aharon HaKohen? Indeed, Chazal characterize his behaviour as an act of sheer stupidity that he would somehow replace Aharon as the Kohen Gadol. They say that he was driven by a vision that he had of his descendants, one of which was Shmuel HaNavi. He assumed that if such virtuous scholars and great Tzadikim would descend from him, then he himself must be destined to such greatness and his quest would be successful. Chazal tell us that Korach failed to realize that his three sons would ultimately repent from the sin of being involved in their father’s rebellion and would not meet his ultimate fate of death.
The notion that Korach’s sons were spared the horrible death of being swallowed up by the ground because they turned away from their father’s evil ways needs to be better understood. Even though his plan was risky and could be easily challenged, Korach possessed superior talent and wisdom. He was Moshe Rabeinu’s first cousin sprouting from the same awesome roots, the family of Kehat. In fact, he was one of the four who were selected to carry the Aron HaKodesh. Chazal say, the merit of those who carried it was so great that actually, the Aron carried them. Therefore, his mission of rebelling was truly something to be taken seriously.
Further, we glean from the story that Korach possessed superior interpersonal intelligence. Through his great charisma he was able to influence not only his own family but hundreds of people from the tribe of Reuben who camped in proximity to them. Not only did they go along with his ideas, they were passionate for his mission and boldly stood up to Moshe Rabeinu. In the end, what caused all three sons to turn away from him, something that none of the other members of the rebellion were able to do?
The sons of Korach themselves shed light on their journey to become Baalei Teshuva. Not only did they repent from their evil ways, they sought to undo the damage caused by their father’s rebellion. We find that several chapters of Tehillim were composed prophetically by them. One of the chapters was dedicated to promoting the greatness of scholars like Moshe Rabeinu in direct contrast to their father’s anti-Moshe message.
In fact, their ultimate salvation came about by an act of respect toward Moshe Rabeinu. The Midrash records that during the height of the rebellion Korach and his three sons were sitting together. At some point, Moshe Rabeinu began to approach them. The sons were in a quandary. Should they stand up in deference to the Gadol HaDor as per the command of the Torah or should they remain seated so as not to disgrace their father? Finally, they decided that it was preferable to honour the great Torah sage. At that moment, the spark of sincere repentance began to flicker in their hearts. What was it that influenced them away from their father?
One of the Pasukim that the sons wrote in the 45th chapter of Tehilim provides an insight. “You are beautiful beyond other men…” Rashi comments that this is a reference to the Torah scholar who is fairer than those who are immersed in temporal and material pursuits. Once he begins to seek material benefits, he no longer appears attractive. Rashi states that this idea is based on a statement made by Chazal in the Talmud Sanhedrin that is referring to the men of Korach. “How does a Talmid Chacham appear in the eyes of an unlearned individual? At first, he resembles a precious golden vase. Once he begins to speak freely with him, the sage appears like a mere silver vase. Then, when the sage begins to draw pleasure from the unlearned individual, he loses respect for him and sees the scholar as nothing more than an earthenware pot, which breaks easily and cannot be repaired.
This description of the sage was actually the mindset of Korach. When he approached the generation’s greatest scholars to join his rebellion, he held them in the greatest respect. Once they began accepting his generous monetary gifts, he lost all respect.
Ultimately, the same outlook that Korach used against those who joined him, his sons used to become aroused to repentance. However, due to their deep emotional attachment for their father they were unable to see him in any lesser way until he was side by side with the “real thing”. Once Korach and Moshe Rabeinu were within the same four cubits did his sons understand the vast difference between the two men, and they rose out of respect for Moshe Rabeinu. As a result, the three sons of Korach were saved from Gehinom by becoming attached to a protrusion jutting out from the whole that opened up in the ground to swallow up the rebels. At that point, being faced with the fires of Gehinom below, they fully repented.
As parents there is a powerful lesson from the words in Mishlei as understood by the Rabeinu Yona. Shlomo HaMelech writes, “…a man according to who honours him.” That means, if you want to know what is admirable about a person, pay attention to who shows him respect. The Rabeinu Yona also understood the words in the opposite way. What does a person truly consider to be most important? Pay attention to who and what he honours. Who does he stand up for, what is the content of the pictures he has hanging on his walls, who does he travel far distances to visit, etc. These are actions of parents and grandparents that will register in the hearts of children and eternally influence them for the good.
Shabbat Shalom