I Have Always Heard That Virtue Ought To Be Its Own Reward (John Barlow & Brett Mydland - "Just a Little Light")

           A  former and still popular U.S. President once said that “elections have consequences”. That statement reflects on the leaders who campaigned, and who sought votes and who either won or lost. That statement also reflects upon the public, both upon those who vote and those who don’t, upon those who are enfranchised and those who are disenfranchised, and those who live in and among the community where the election took place and those who do not live in the community but have to deal with the community.  “Elections have consequences” for wherever elections are held, at the Federal and the Municipal level and elections have consequences at a Co-Op board, a school board, a board of directors, and even at a Shul. If an effective, competent good leader is elected, the community and the organization is rewarded. If an incompetent, ignorant, self-promoting, or disingenuous leader is elected, the community and the organization are ultimately punished. 
          This Shabbat, we read from Parsha Korach. Korach was Moshe and Aaron’s cousin. “ tribe of Levi. Korach questioned Moshe's authority eventually leading a rebellion. Korach did question Moshe’s authority in a private meeting between individuals. Rather, Korach gathered 250 supporters, and then publicly challenged Moshe. Moshe tried to keep peace within the community but to no avail. A divine test is administered, and Korach and his supporters fail. The earth swallows them up. However, God is angry and a plague falls upon the people. They are communally punished for Korach's actions, their passive support, and their failure to bond together against Korach. Yet the people are still not convinced that Moshe and Aharon should remain in charge, only that Korach was unworthy. So a second divine test is administered this time with 12 rods stuck in the ground and almond branches resulting in Aaron’s staff, thus symbolizing that God has chosen Aharon to be the Kohen Gadol.  The Parsha concludes with God speaking to Aharon and re-iterating his obligations in terms of the Mishkan, the Altar, and the Tent of the Meeting. 
           The Parsha offers a benchmark for evaluating conflict. The Talmudic sages explain that conflicts disagreements and different opinions are to be expected    There are conflicts and disagreements that are “Shem Shamayim” (in the Name of Heaven) and there are those that are not in the name of heaven.  Korach’s rebellion, according to the Talmudic Sages, was not in the name of heaven.  The Parsha begins like any disagreement or a rebellion should begin: and an aggrieved person tries to convince others that they, too, are aggrieved.  VaYikach Korach ben Yitzhar Ben Kahat ben Levi v’ Datan V’Aviram B’nai Eliav V’On ben Pelet Bnai Reuven – Korach son of Itzhar son of Kohath son of Levi took Datan and Aviram.  By the end of the “Rebellion”, Moshe has attempted to make peace by bowing his head to the ground in front of Korach and God is seething VaYidaber Hashem  El Moshe V’Aharon Leimor, HiBadlu MiToch Ha’Edah HaZot  Va’Achaleh Otam K’Ragah - And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aaron saying; separate yourselves from this congregation so that I may consume them in a moment.  VaYiplu Al Peneihem VaYomru Eil Elohei HaRuchot L’Chol Basar HaIsh Echad YeCheta V’Al Kol Ha’Edahg Tiktzof - and they fell upon their faces and said, “O’ God, God of the spirits and all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with the entire assembly? (Num.14:20-21) The answer of course is yes. This is why God urged everyone to separate themselves from Korach, and those who did not would be punished as well.
          Yes, the people were misled by a disingenuous Korach. Indeed, Korach’s accusation that Moshe and Aaron were “lording” themselves over the community, resonated with those who followed Korach. The consequences were revealing. Moshe interceded on behalf of the community in order to minimize the communal guilt and punishment. Korach and his followers were punished.  However, the shine on Moshe’s leadership had been tarnished and his leadership would continue to be challenged until B’nei Israel’s arrival in Eretz Canaan. No, Korach’s rebellion did not succeed. Even so, the community was punished. Imagine what would have happened if Korach had succeeded. Well, it seems that there are enough examples of leaders who came to power through grievance, there are enough examples of leaders who are mostly concerned with themselves and not the welfare of the community, and there are plenty examples of leaders who spread KoRaCh spiritual baldness or emptiness as part of their own agenda. It is up to everybody else to speak out against such leaders and to distance themselves from such leaders not only for their own welfare but the welfare of the community or the organization.

Peace,
Rav Yitz