Korah

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1. The Incense and Korah's Dispute

   Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

   The incense appears twice in Parashat Korah: once in the context of the incense test, and a second time when Aharon stops the plague. What is unique about incense? Is it of essential significance, or only secondary to the other vessels of the Mishkan? Why is the Altar of Incense mentioned separately from all other holy vessels?

2. Two Complaints of the Nation, and the Re-Appointment of Aharon

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   Parashat Korah raises some questions regarding the order of the various complaints. This article offers an analysis of the complaints and challenges of Bnei Yisrael.

3. The Election of the Tribe of Levi

   Rabbi Ezra Bick

   The story of Korah ends with the flowering of Aharon's staff. The story is immediately followed by God's commandment to the Priests and Levites. Apparently the flowering of the staff was not only an indication of Aharon's position, but of God's choice of the entire tribe of Levi. Why does this choice require reinforcement? Apparently Aharon's special task stems from his tribe, and the unique role of the tribe stems from the nation. Kedusha belongs to the group as a whole, but each component plays a different role to enhance and support kedusha.

4. The Incense Challenge

   Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 30 minutes

   The rebellion of Korach, Datan, Aviram, and the 250 men offering incense is complex, with multiple agendas. The holiness incense “test” suggested by Moshe is perplexing, especially in light of the Nadav and Avihu story. Was it a death threat? If so, would it not have been an obvious one? Why did the men agree to it?

5. There is no Earlier and Later in the Torah - Is This True?

   Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish

   תאריך פרסום: תשס"ט | |

   It is well established that biblical narrative frequently departs from the chronological order of the events it is describing. This principle was first enunciated by Talmudic sages in the well-known, "there is no earlier and later in the Torah". However, classic commentators such as Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and Ramban sharply debated the proper application of this principle and the textual conditions which warrant its utilization. In this lecture we will survey many of the better-known and some of the lesser-known instances in which this principle has been employed, and in each case we will examine its legitimacy, its necessity, and its ramifications.

6. The Turning Point of Sefer Bamidbar

   Rabbi Yair Kahn

   תאריך פרסום: תש"ע | |

   What is the turning point in Sefer Bamidbar? Although there could be various answers to that question, by exploring the story of Korach from a new angle we can notice its key role in shaping the rest of the book. The story teaches us about the role of the Kohanim within the nation, and what it means for every person to have their own mikdash within them. 

7. Moshe vs. the Rebels: A Challenge on Two Fronts

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    Parshat Korach combines two stories that are unrelated to each other: the complaints of Korach on one hand, and the complaints of Datan and Aviram on the other. Are these really two different stories, or just one story occurring in two places? This article deals with this question and with other difficulties through content and other literary devices. 

8. Where Korach was Right, and Where He Was Dead Wrong

   Avidan Freedman

9. What's More Important than God?

   Avidan Freedman

10. From Great Responsibility Comes...

    Avidan Freedman

11. The Entire Nation is Holy (Audio)

    Rabbi Yair Kahn | 14 minutes

    Despite Korach's rebellious intentions, he had a legitimate complaint. How can we answer Korach's charge that "the entire nation is holy"? By examining the ideas of sanctity and kehuna,  we can learn about the borders that must be set in order to truly achieve a nation of holiness.

12. Datan and Aviram

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    This article deals with Datan and Aviram's reaction to Moshe's messengers who came to call for them. We can gain a deeper understanding of their response by dividing it into two sections, and can better discern when the events in the parsha took place. 

13. The Entire Nation is Holy

    Rabbi Yair Kahn

    Despite Korach's rebellious intentions, he had a legitimate complaint. How can we answer Korach's charge that "the entire nation is holy"? By examining the ideas of sanctity and kehuna,  we can learn about the borders that must be set in order to truly achieve a nation of holiness.

14. Korah's Genealogy

15. Short Thoughts on Korach - What Did He Take?

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 12 minutes

    The parasha begins with a statement that Korah "took" - but there is no direct object, and "took" is a transitive verb. What did Korach take? He took himself outside of the comunity, in order to stew and plot.

16. What Happened to Korah?

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

    What happened to Korach, and where was he during the deaths of the rebelling factions at the end of his saga? Was he swallowed up with his followers, or was he burnt with the givers of incense - or neither?

    Who was Korach? His tragic flaw was that he connected two very groups - one that could have been legitimate, with another (led by Datan and Aviram) whose purpose was evil. A sad situation comes about when people associate  with evil organizations - it makes others wonder if they are essentially similar.

17. Korach: The Fine Line in Challenging Leaders

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 12 minutes

    The different groups that confront Moshe in Parashat Korach have different motivations, agendas, and intentions. When we look deeply, we find that Korach's group, who sought to offer incense, seems to have had good intentions. Their argument  was "le-shem Shamayim"- for the sake of Heaven, but they were not careful and made a very severe mistake. On the other hand, the other group that Korach aligned himself with, that of Datan and Aviram, had wicked intentions. They just wanted to complain. Theirs was a straight confrontation with Moshe and God, and it was not for the sake of Heaven.

     Though some disputes with leaders may be legitimate,  we must  carefully consider that sometimes, when we are taking issue with our leaders, we are actually taking issue with God. We are responsible for thinking things through to prevent serious mistakes.

     

     

18. Is the Nation to Blame for the Actions of Korach?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

19. Korach: Power Outage!

    Rabbi Jay Kelman

20. Moshe Confronts Korah: Pragmatic Humility and Covenantal Attitudes

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

    This week, we examine the challenge of Korah.  Though (in Parashat Behaalotekha) Moshe himself expressed a positive view about the entire nation being on a plane in which they could receive prophecy, he is able to see through Korach's claim of the entire nation being holy, without a need for Moshe. Moshe, though humble, sees Korach's ulterior motives - he wants a chunk of the leadership status for himself. 

    We turn to the book of Yirmiahu for an insight into the renewal of the covenant in future times: though God established the covenant with Israel when they came out of Egypt, at that time they were like children in their relationship with God, as he "led them by the hand" out of Egypt. In future times, they will not need constant, overt, reassurances that God is present - they will all "know God" in their more adult phase of the relationship with God.

21. Commissioner for Public Complaints

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

22. Parshat Korach Part 1: The Two Rebellions Against Moshe

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 24 minutes

    This is the first podcast of Parshat Korach and it discusses the story of the rebellion, its chronological and sequential placements within Sefer Bemidbar. We also revisit the halachic topics at the end of Parshat Shelach and view them not only as the aftermath to the sin of the spies but as necessary introductions to Parshat Korach.

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

23. The Lord killeth and maketh alive" (1Sam. 2) – A Rabbinic Reading of a Biblical Text

    Dr. Yonatan Feintuch | 58 minutes

    This shiur deals with the relationship between midrash and pshat (the simple reading of biblical verses). It addresses the question whether midrashic narratives that do not appear to have a textual basis in the biblical narrative, are rabbinic ideas that are artificially attached to the biblical text, or are actually an alternative, sophisticated reading of various implicit elements that exist in the text itself . The large part of the shiur will address these questions specifically through the lens of a brief midrashic narrative, which describes the biblical character of Channa (Shmuel's mother) as praying on behalf of the sect of Korach, and elevating them from the netherworld where they sank after their rebellion against Moshe.