GOOD MACHLOKES VERSUS BAD MACHLOKES
Korach
“All of the congregation are holy and Hashem is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves up over the congregation of Hashem?”
This was Korach’s challenge to Moshe Rabbeinu and it seems like a fair and altruistic complaint.
All of the Jewish people were chosen by Hashem and heard Hashem speak at Har Sinai. Why is there the need for a single, absolute leader? Why should everyone else have to submit themselves to his authority and leadership?
The Seder according to Torah is that in every generation there is a leader - the Manhig Hador. He serves to lead and to care and provide for the Jewish people, who in turn must humble and surrender themselves to his leadership.
The Zohar explains that all of the flows of G-dly blessing come into the world via the Tzaddik. This is the inner meaning of the verse Vetzaddik Yesod Olam, the Tzaddik is the foundation of the world.
We find this Seder in time as well. Shabbos is the source of blessings for all of the days of the week. The Zohar teaches that all of the blessings above and below (in the physical and spiritual worlds) depend on Shabbos.
Each day has its own uniqueness. But Hashem created one unique day that is holier than the rest and sends His blessings through it.
Talmidei Chachamim are called “Shabbos”. The Zohar calls Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in his generation with the title “Shabbos”.
Just like the blessings of Hashem flow to the 6 days of the week through Shabbos, so too all blessings come to the generation through the Tzaddik Hador.
In his rebellion against Moshe, Korach was challenging this Seder. He did not want to be a merely a receiver and have to submit himself to Moshe Rabbeinu for his blessings and sustenance.
The Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk explains that Korach was not the first to challenge this order.
This was the underlying complaint of Kayin when he killed his brother Hevel. In their generation, Hevel was the Tzaddik Yesod Olam. In order to receive his blessings, Kayin was dependent on and had to surrender himself to his brother.
This is the meaning of Kayin’s question השומר אחי אנכי (literally am I my brother’s keeper)?
The word Shomer can also mean to await with anticipation. Kayin was asking Hashem “why do I need to turn to my brother to await all of my blessings?”
This was also the argument that led Lot to separate himself from Avraham. The Posuk teachesוְלֹא־נָשָׂא אֹתָם הָאָרֶץ לָשֶׁבֶת יַחְדָּו כִּי־הָיָה רְכוּשָׁם רָב “the land could not support them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great (Rav)”
To dwell (לשבת) has the same spelling as Shabbos. The Posuk alludes to the fact that Lot did not want to surrender himself to “Shabbos” - to receive from Avraham the Tzaddik Hador. The reason was because their possessions were “Rav”. Lot saw himself as a “Rav”, a master in his own right, having no need for Avraham.
This was also the reason the brothers despised Yosef. The Posuk teaches וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶחָיו לִרְעוֹת אֶת־צֹאן אֲבִיהֶם בִּשְׁכֶם “his brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flock at Shechem”.
Interpreting the dots on top of the word לרעות - to pasture - the Midrash teaches that they had gone their to ‘pasture’ themselves.
לרעות also means to shepherd. The leader of the generation is the faithful shepherd רעיא מהימנא, who leads and sustains their flock.
Yosef was the Tzaddik Yesod Olam, the shepherd who would sustain his brothers as alluded to in his dreams.
But the brothers did not wish to submit to his leadership. They did not see why they, as great individuals, needed to defer to Yosef. Instead they sought to “shepherd” themselves.
Moshe’s answer to Korach wasרַב־לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי . Even though you are Bnei Levi, members of an elevated tribe, “Rav Lachem”, you need to take for yourselves a Rav, a master, by submitting to the Manhig Hador.
This was Korach’s challenge to Moshe Rabbeinu and it seems like a fair and altruistic complaint.
All of the Jewish people were chosen by Hashem and heard Hashem speak at Har Sinai. Why is there the need for a single, absolute leader? Why should everyone else have to submit themselves to his authority and leadership?
The Seder according to Torah is that in every generation there is a leader - the Manhig Hador. He serves to lead and to care and provide for the Jewish people, who in turn must humble and surrender themselves to his leadership.
The Zohar explains that all of the flows of G-dly blessing come into the world via the Tzaddik. This is the inner meaning of the verse Vetzaddik Yesod Olam, the Tzaddik is the foundation of the world.
We find this Seder in time as well. Shabbos is the source of blessings for all of the days of the week. The Zohar teaches that all of the blessings above and below (in the physical and spiritual worlds) depend on Shabbos.
Each day has its own uniqueness. But Hashem created one unique day that is holier than the rest and sends His blessings through it.
Talmidei Chachamim are called “Shabbos”. The Zohar calls Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in his generation with the title “Shabbos”.
Just like the blessings of Hashem flow to the 6 days of the week through Shabbos, so too all blessings come to the generation through the Tzaddik Hador.
In his rebellion against Moshe, Korach was challenging this Seder. He did not want to be a merely a receiver and have to submit himself to Moshe Rabbeinu for his blessings and sustenance.
The Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk explains that Korach was not the first to challenge this order.
This was the underlying complaint of Kayin when he killed his brother Hevel. In their generation, Hevel was the Tzaddik Yesod Olam. In order to receive his blessings, Kayin was dependent on and had to surrender himself to his brother.
This is the meaning of Kayin’s question השומר אחי אנכי (literally am I my brother’s keeper)?
The word Shomer can also mean to await with anticipation. Kayin was asking Hashem “why do I need to turn to my brother to await all of my blessings?”
This was also the argument that led Lot to separate himself from Avraham. The Posuk teachesוְלֹא־נָשָׂא אֹתָם הָאָרֶץ לָשֶׁבֶת יַחְדָּו כִּי־הָיָה רְכוּשָׁם רָב “the land could not support them dwelling together, for their possessions were so great (Rav)”
To dwell (לשבת) has the same spelling as Shabbos. The Posuk alludes to the fact that Lot did not want to surrender himself to “Shabbos” - to receive from Avraham the Tzaddik Hador. The reason was because their possessions were “Rav”. Lot saw himself as a “Rav”, a master in his own right, having no need for Avraham.
This was also the reason the brothers despised Yosef. The Posuk teaches וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶחָיו לִרְעוֹת אֶת־צֹאן אֲבִיהֶם בִּשְׁכֶם “his brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flock at Shechem”.
Interpreting the dots on top of the word לרעות - to pasture - the Midrash teaches that they had gone their to ‘pasture’ themselves.
לרעות also means to shepherd. The leader of the generation is the faithful shepherd רעיא מהימנא, who leads and sustains their flock.
Yosef was the Tzaddik Yesod Olam, the shepherd who would sustain his brothers as alluded to in his dreams.
But the brothers did not wish to submit to his leadership. They did not see why they, as great individuals, needed to defer to Yosef. Instead they sought to “shepherd” themselves.
Moshe’s answer to Korach wasרַב־לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי . Even though you are Bnei Levi, members of an elevated tribe, “Rav Lachem”, you need to take for yourselves a Rav, a master, by submitting to the Manhig Hador.