In this week’s Parshah we have the famous argument that Korach had with Moshe. We all know the basic story – Korach had issues with the way the hierarchy of the Jewish Nation was being selected. Korach went about voicing his opinion in a rather brazen way. Korach refused to even engage in conversation with Moshe, to listen to the claims that Moshe was willing to explain to him; he just presented his view on things and then walked out. When presenting some of his views he did so with extreme mockery. How did Korach manage to spur on such a rebellion, how was he so successful in inciting the masses?
Rabaynu Bachay [1255-1340] famously introduces every Parshah with a verse from Proverbs which encapsulates the theme of the Parshah. Our Parshah’s verse is, “He who trusts in his wealth – he will fall”. This was Korach – fabulously wealthy and therefore very influential but his downfall was a direct result of his wealth. The Medrash ascribes another verse to Korach, “There is an evil that I have seen; riches hoarded by their owners to his misfortune”. This was the key to Korach’s success; a wealthy person can view his opinions without anyone objecting. This is why, when Korach was punished, his assets went down with him – to illustrate to us that they were the cause of his downfall.
How did his extreme wealth cause him to categorically refuse to even listen to the other side of the argument? The following story taken from one of my kid’s story books beautifully answers our problem!
Reb Yankel was a poor man in the furniture trade a few hundred years ago. Although he had little money his house was always full of guests. Hachnosas Orchim (hospitality) was his forté, and many nights he sacrificed his own pillows to accommodate his guests. His Rebbe, Reb Yeshaya, would often come to visit on his travels to encourage his close disciple. On one such occasion Reb Yeshaya gave the poor furniture trader a blessing of success in his business.
True to the Rebbe’s blessing, Reb Yankel’s business began to expand and within a short span of time he became wealthy. His little dilapidated house was replaced with a great mansion, with extravagant hallways adorned with paintings and the like. Slowly but surely, the sound of guests that once frequented Reb Yankel’s house dwindled down to nothing.
Word of Reb Yankel’s fortunes reached the ears of his Rebbe Reb Yeshaya, who was utterly dismayed to hear how his blessing had led his disciple to forsake his great mitzvah of hospitality. Reb Yeshaya decided that the only course of action was to personally go and visit his student.
Once welcomed into Reb Yankel’s new mansion – the one bereft of visitors, he was shown around from room to room, from hallway to hallway until eventually Reb Yeshaya stopped by a window that overlooked the street. “What do you see through the window” asked Reb Yeshaya. Taken aback by the strange question, Reb Yankel stammered, “Well, err, I see people. There is Moishele the shamash, and there is Chaim the water carrier”. Reb Yeshaya listened, and then moved on.
As they proceeded to move into one of the exquisite hallways, Reb Yeshaya pulled up opposite an ornate mirror. “What do you see though the mirror?” asked Reb Yeshaya. Completely bemused Reb Yankel said, “Why Rebbe it’s a mirror, obviously I see myself in the mirror”.
“What’s a mirror made of?” asked the Rebbe. “Glass” replied the baffled student. “And what’s the window made of?” “Also glass”. “So how come that when looking at the glass window you see other people, but when looking through the glass mirror you see yourself?”
“Well a mirror has a layer of silver on it that prevents you seeing through it, therefore you only see yourself”. “Ah ha” concluded the Rebbe, “what you’re saying is that silver is the medium that stops you seeing others and makes you only see yourself” .
As this message suddenly sunk in, Reb Yankel broke down in tears and vowed to his Rebbe that he would once again make his house full of guests. And then as a reminder of Reb Yeshaya’s deep message, he took down the biggest mirror that adorned his main hallway, and he scratched off some of the silver lining and hung it back on the wall!
This was Korach. His great wealth caused him to only see himself – no one else out there existed, and therefore he went about arguing his cause in the most arrogant way, not even willing to engage in debate with Moshe. It is interesting to note that Korach is introduced with the words, “and Korach took”. This was the essence of Korach: he was a taker, he saw only his own needs. His wealth blocked him from seeing others and from becoming a giver.
A Jewish king is warned against amassing great wealth; “Only he shall not have too many horses for himself…. And he shall not greatly increase silver and gold for himself …… so that his heart does not become haughty over his brethren”. The leader’s lavish lifestyle could cause him to forget the needs of the people as we see with both Korach and Reb Yankel.
Good Shabbos, Yaakov