Korach Preview from Rick Hornung

Dear Scrollers:

 

This week, the rabbis have given us a special treat, Num. 16:1 - 18:32, a portion named after a rebel, Korah, who openly challenges Moses' authority and the priestly lineage. In addition to Korah taking disenchanted Levites and Reubenites, we are told told of Dathan and Abiram's disobedience and refusal to heed Moses' call.

 

Last week, we were told that our generation will not make into the promised land; this week, there is an organized and brazen effort to wrest leadership from Moses and Aaron.

 

Inside the camp -- within the assembly, some of us are plotting. Many of us believe we know better than than those chosen to lead the chosen.

 

As a tale of political maneuver and leadership battles,  this portion gives us a chance to read of and reflect on the differences between dissent and arrogance, honest criticism and self-serving, partisan tactics. As a tale of accountability and integrity, this portion gives us a chance to consider the differences between ambition and aspiration.

 

In the previous portion, the majority and minority reports proffered by the spies illustrate that our assembly was created and guided by principles that allow for the necessity, and therefore the holiness, of internal conflict. In Exodus and Leviticus, the advice of Jethro, the establishment of a judiciary, the setting aside of lands and gleanings to re-distribute income are all indications that the divinely-given plan for our survival includes the inevitability of and health in maintaining forums for debate and argument. And, of course, our traditions of midrash, talmud and commentary are based on genres of disputation, poste and riposte. Last week, it is Moses who  embodies these virtues by persuading the divine to temper anger. (The importance of facing conflict as it arises within the community may be seen as a cautionary example of how important it is to recognize and face the emotional conflicts, fears and anxiety that arise within ourselves.)

 

This week, we are a people of diminished, if not destroyed, aspiration. Our decision to back the majority report of the spies prompts the consequence of dying before the next generation cross over the River Jordan and enter the promised land. Though we may take some comfort in knowing that our children will have a life in the land of milk and honey, we are faced with the challenge of finding solace -- and purpose -- in our wanderings in a wilderness.

 

Out of this shattered possibility, Korah makes his move. When we need to regroup, he charges forward -- and, once again, the consequences are dire.

 

Good shabbes,

 

Rick

Scrollers Preview - Parashat B'ha-alotecha 2014

Grumblings about food, assembling against leaders, weeping and moaning. The rebellion narratives of the book of Numbers have begun.

Everett Fox divides the book of Numbers into three main sections: “In the Wilderness of Sinai: The Camp,” “The Rebellious Folk: Narrives of Challenge,” and “In the Plains of Moab: Preparations for the Conquest of Canaan.”

This week’s parasha closes up the first section with a number of  laws. Included are instructions regarding the Levites and their role as substitutes for all Israelite first-born, laws about those who can’t observe Pesach because of ritual impurity, and a description of how the Israelite’s set up camp and moved forward at the command of God.

The book then takes a twist and jumps into rebellion and drama. In Chapter 11 the “riff-raff” instigate a campaign against manna and for meat. And in Chapter 12 Miryam and Aaron speak against their brother. Presumably, they do this because they disapprove of his wife, but it becomes clear that they are really angling for more power by questioning Moses’ unique claim to prophecy.

You may remember that our discussion last week ended with a conversation about humility. In Chapter 12, the Torah narrator’s voice claims that “Moshe is exceedingly humble, more than any (other) human who is on the face of the earth.” These rebellions test Moshe’s humility big time. And the Israelites are tested as well – do they have the faith and trust in God, in their leadership and in themselves that they need to be able to move forward into the Promised Land? It seems that the next few parashot of Numbers call to us to examine this quality (middah) of humility. We know that it’s possible to have too little of it. Do the Israelites have too much such that they don’t believe in themselves?