When reading the
parshah of Korach, I am always reminded of the beauty and depth of the Rebbe’s
teachings.
If there is one
pivotal point of the Rebbe’s towering persona; one essential teaching in which
his life’s work and mission lies distilled, it is love. Love of G-d, love of
Torah and love for his fellow Jew.
Anyone who studies
his teachings well, will discover this theme interlaced from cover to cover.
In his unique but
ingenious style, the Rebbe clears the pathway to the soul of each Jew and propels
the delicate approach of the flame of Torah that will ignite, upon contact, the
spark that lies inside.
In the parshah
of Korach we learn of how Moshe’s leadership was reconfirmed by some of the
most incredible acts of God described throughout the Torah and of the tragic
fate of those who participated in the mutiny against him.
Yet the Torah[1]
tells us about a most fascinating fact: ובני
קרח לא מתו, the
children of Korach were miraculously spared from death, despite being
swallowed by the earth together with their father and his followers.
Why were they
spared?
The chazal,
quoted by Rashi, tell us: “[although] they were originally involved in the
conspiracy, they contemplated repentance during the dispute; therefore, an
elevated area was set apart for them in Gehinnom, and they stayed there.”
This is puzzling
when taken at face value. The children of Korach took part in a most treacherous
scheme, along with the most devious characters, designed to unseat Moshe
Rabbeinu, the one human being who communicated with G-d at whim, the redeemer
of the Jewish people and their eternal leader. What’s more, not only did they
participate in the uprising, they partnered in instigating it!
Furthermore, not
only did Korach’s children survive, but they actually merited being the
ancestors of great Jews, such as Shmuel Hanavi, and twenty four entire
assemblies of prophets[2].
What did they do that was so meritorious? Why did Korach’s children merit to be
spared?
The Rebbe helps us
stop and reflect on this point[3]:
Because they contemplated repentance! They (merely) entertained the
thought of asking forgiveness for their misdeeds and returning to the rest
of am Yisrael.
Let us bear in
mind that their desire to repent remained lodged internally and was not actually
articulated at that time; they didn’t actually repent, they only considered
doing so. Yet not only were they spared from extinction, they were granted an
elevated space where they were contained[4],
and (38 years) later became the honorary ancestors of great Jewish people.
To
be sure, they actually composed some of the most prominent praises of the
Almighty, later to be recorded in the Tehillim of King David[5].
This episode highlights
the remarkable ability of a Jew to do Teshuvah, and return to his or her
Father in Heaven. It demonstrates that by merely entertaining the thought
of changing one’s ways and abandoning unproductive tendencies and behaviors,
one has the ability to lift oneself from the depths of depravity, and attain G-d’s
forgiveness, bringing blessing and merit to all their future generations. By
reacting positively to just one fleeting thought of doing good, we can reconnect
with G-d and tip the scales in our favor.
Throughout the
millennia of history there has never been a dearth of devoted Jewish leaders.
Some special leaders, though, stand apart. Of this elite group, the Rebbe is in
a class by himself, serving as the ultimate paradigm of Jewish leadership.
It was the Rebbe
who pioneered the global Jewish renaissance and teshuvah movement,
through which Jews have returned to Torah and Judaism in numbers unprecedented
in modern history. It was the Rebbe who was gifted with the foresight and
ingenuity to revitalize the Jewish landscape after it was decimated by the
holocaust. He succeeded because he truly understood and felt the potential that
lies at the heart of each Jewish soul, and taught how it can be reached and its
spark ignited.
Although he initiated
the baal teshuvah movement alone upon his assuming the mantle of the
Chabad leadership in 1950, once his work began to bear fruit and the truth and legitimacy
of his approach had been demonstrated, other groups eventually joined in the
effort as well.
As we study the
Parshah of Korach, we are reminded of his relentless pursuit to reach the soul
of each Jew and inspire it with the desire to return to G-d. Each Jew touched
by the Rebbe felt the love of God, love of Torah and love of a fellow Jew.
Today we
rededicate ourselves to all that he taught us about how to be a true Torah Jew,
which by the Rebbe’s definition, compels us to reach out to our brethren
wherever they may be, and help them both physically and spiritually, allowing
them to appreciate their true Jewish potential.
[1]) Bamidbar, 26:11.
[2]) Midrash Tanchuma, Korach, 12.
[3]) Based on Likutei Sichos, 33 p. 174.
[4]) It is worthwhile to mention that the Rebbe once
explained (5737 / 1977) that the children of Korach were held in a cave
underground, similar to the cave used by Lot, the Cave of the Patriarchs, and
the like. Once the generation of Korach had passed on they were allowed to
return to B’nei Yisrael.
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