Dear Friends,
In the era of social distancing, we are ever more sensitive to being part of community.
I, for one, deeply miss the regular, personal interactions with those of our Temple Beth Jacob synagogue community. I miss the greetings, the schmoozing, the crossing-paths in the hallway or doorway, and the touching, hugging, and high-fives, especially with our younger set.
Thus, we are not only more aware of being part of community, but just as much, we are aware of being apart from community.
Hence, in this week’s Torah portion, Korach, detailing the rebellion of Korach and his coconspirators against Moses, we read in the opening verse that “Korach took himself, along with Dathan and Aviram… to rise up against Moses…” (Numbers. 16:1-2). Of question is what might “took himself” imply?
Some commentators suggest that it is idiomatic, implying that he took himself, as in, “he took himself to the bank.”
Others offer that he took others, such as Dathan and Aviram to confront Moses, and still others suggest it is a mis-rendering, and the Hebrew should be emended to mean that he arose or he was insolent.
And, there is this commentary, from Rashi, our medieval French sage, who cited a first century Roman biblical translator, Onkelos, who suggested that “He took himself to one side, to be set apart from the congregation.” Essentially, Korach took himself… away.
This is both problematic and acceptable. It is acceptable because it helps explain the hostility of Korach and our contempt for him. After all, it is okay to disdain one who rejects the community. And, it is problematic in that we are troubled whenever one separates from the community. Another famous text in the Midrash, in Pirke Avot, the Wisdom of the sages, expresses it succinctly: “Do not separate yourself from the community.” Yet, that is just what Korach did, and for which he would be punished when his insurrection failed.
We learn – it is acceptable to be angry or upset at the community. It is natural. Look at the rallies and protests across America in recent weeks. Yet, it is not acceptable, nor efficacious – to separate from the community. The independent zone in Seattle achieved nothing. However, protests in Atlanta and New York have resulted in changed policing policies. Separating from the community only results in separation. Contending with authority may yield some yielding.
Essentially, one cannot change society or the community unless one is part of it. Thus, we learn from Korach, and from current events.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
In the era of social distancing, we are ever more sensitive to being part of community.
I, for one, deeply miss the regular, personal interactions with those of our Temple Beth Jacob synagogue community. I miss the greetings, the schmoozing, the crossing-paths in the hallway or doorway, and the touching, hugging, and high-fives, especially with our younger set.
Thus, we are not only more aware of being part of community, but just as much, we are aware of being apart from community.
Hence, in this week’s Torah portion, Korach, detailing the rebellion of Korach and his coconspirators against Moses, we read in the opening verse that “Korach took himself, along with Dathan and Aviram… to rise up against Moses…” (Numbers. 16:1-2). Of question is what might “took himself” imply?
Some commentators suggest that it is idiomatic, implying that he took himself, as in, “he took himself to the bank.”
Others offer that he took others, such as Dathan and Aviram to confront Moses, and still others suggest it is a mis-rendering, and the Hebrew should be emended to mean that he arose or he was insolent.
And, there is this commentary, from Rashi, our medieval French sage, who cited a first century Roman biblical translator, Onkelos, who suggested that “He took himself to one side, to be set apart from the congregation.” Essentially, Korach took himself… away.
This is both problematic and acceptable. It is acceptable because it helps explain the hostility of Korach and our contempt for him. After all, it is okay to disdain one who rejects the community. And, it is problematic in that we are troubled whenever one separates from the community. Another famous text in the Midrash, in Pirke Avot, the Wisdom of the sages, expresses it succinctly: “Do not separate yourself from the community.” Yet, that is just what Korach did, and for which he would be punished when his insurrection failed.
We learn – it is acceptable to be angry or upset at the community. It is natural. Look at the rallies and protests across America in recent weeks. Yet, it is not acceptable, nor efficacious – to separate from the community. The independent zone in Seattle achieved nothing. However, protests in Atlanta and New York have resulted in changed policing policies. Separating from the community only results in separation. Contending with authority may yield some yielding.
Essentially, one cannot change society or the community unless one is part of it. Thus, we learn from Korach, and from current events.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
