Korach 5772

In this week’s parsha, Korach challenges Moshe’s leadership. The parsha begins: “Korach…took [himself to one side] along with Dathan and Abiram…They confronted Moshe together with 250 men…”

Pirkei Avot 5:20 (Ethics of Our Fathers) refers to Korach’s confrontation to make a point about arguments. “Any dispute that is for the sake of Heaven will ultimately endure, and any that is not for the sake of Heaven will not ultimately endure. What is a dispute for the sake of Heaven? The arguments between Hillel and Shammai. And those not for the sake of Heaven? The arguments of Korach and his followers.” (Rabbis Hillel and Shammai were early First Century scholars who frequently debated and had differing views on rituals, ethics and theology.)  

Why does Pirkei Avot name both Hillel and Shammai, but when referring to Korach’s dispute with Moshe, mention only one side of the dispute, Korach but not Moshe? 

Writes Rabbi Yissocher Frand based on the commentary of Rav Shimon Schwab: “In an argument for the sake of Heaven, both parties are interested in hearing the opinion of the other. Their goal is to arrive at the truth and in order to do so they have to hear both sides of the argument…But in an argument that is not for the sake of Heaven, such as that of Korach and his followers, there was no interest in discovering the truth.  There was only a grab for prestige and power…They turned a deaf ear to all the arguments against their position. Therefore their dispute did not really have two sides.”

Writes Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein, citing commentary of Rav Yonatan Eybeschutz: “The dispute was not between Korach and Moshe at all; rather, it was really between Korach and his assembly, as each of them was vying for leadership and power. Moshe Rabbeinu, however, did not take up their quarrel; on the contrary, he tried his utmost to appease them so as not to carry on a dispute that would eventually lead to disastrous results.” 

Often arguments begin about insignificant matters and then escalate until the parties reach an impasse. They may stop talking to one another and feel only hatred and resentment toward one another. Each one is convinced that he is right and that he must win the argument. The need for victory is so great that each side is blinded to the severe repercussions of continuing the argument. From such disagreements, friends and families may be torn apart irreparably.

Using three symbols of peace, Talmud (Berachos 56b) hints towards how to resolve disputes peacefully: be like a river, a bird, a kettle. Rabbis Yisroel and Osher Anshel Jungreis explain: a river controls its waters from overflowing, as we should control our tempers; a bird flies away from confrontation; a kettle appeases two opposing forces: where water alone would drench the food and fire would burn it, the kettle mediates and provides a productive result.

As parents, we should take Moshe's approach to avoid strife and achieve reconciliation within our families. Instead of speaking in anger, instead of acting impetuously, instead of condemning, we should bite our tongues, swallow our false pride and fight our impulse to engage in altercation.