Korach 5785: Ambition and Rebellion

The Pardes Parsha Podcast finds a throughline between the four stories within Korach and emphasizes having closeness and boundaries with God

What was Korach really fighting for?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Rafael Polisuk explore Parshat Korach. They revisit Korach's rebellion not just as a political protest, but as a sincere -and dangerous- desire for closeness to God. Drawing connections to Nadav and Avihu, incense offerings, and divine fire, the episode challenges listeners to consider whether spiritual closeness is always a blessing- or sometimes too powerful to survive.

These key texts help deepen your listening experience:
Torah Portion: Numbers 16:1-18:32

SOURCES

במדבר ט״ז:ג׳

(ג) וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶם֮ רַב־לָכֶם֒ כִּ֤י כׇל־הָֽעֵדָה֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם קְדֹשִׁ֔ים וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יהוה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ תִּֽתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ עַל־קְהַ֥ל יהוה׃

Numbers 16:3

(3) They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and GOD is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above GOD’s congregation?”

רש"י על במדבר ט״ז:ג׳:ב׳

כלם קדשים. כֻּלָּם שָׁמְעוּ דְבָרִים בְּסִינַי מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה:

Rashi on Numbers 16:3:2

כלם קדשים [FOR] ALL [THE CONGREGATION] ARE HOLY — they all heard the utterances on Sinai from the mouth of the Almighty (Midrash Tanchuma, Korach 4).

במדבר ט״ז:ח׳

(ח) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־קֹ֑רַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃

Numbers 16:8

(8) Moses said further to Korah, “Hear me, sons of Levi.

במדבר כ״ו:ט׳-י׳

(ט) וּבְנֵ֣י אֱלִיאָ֔ב נְמוּאֵ֖ל וְדָתָ֣ן וַאֲבִירָ֑ם הֽוּא־דָתָ֨ן וַאֲבִירָ֜ם (קרואי)[קְרִיאֵ֣י] הָעֵדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצּ֜וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ בַּעֲדַת־קֹ֔רַח בְּהַצֹּתָ֖ם עַל־יהוה׃ (י) וַתִּפְתַּ֨ח הָאָ֜רֶץ אֶת־פִּ֗יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֛ם וְאֶת־קֹ֖רַח בְּמ֣וֹת הָעֵדָ֑ה בַּאֲכֹ֣ל הָאֵ֗שׁ אֵ֣ת חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּמָאתַ֙יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וַיִּהְי֖וּ לְנֵֽס׃

Numbers 26:9-10

(9) The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram, chosen in the assembly, who agitated against Moses and Aaron as part of Korah’s band when they agitated against GOD. (10) Whereupon the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with Korah—when that band died, when the fire consumed the two hundred and fifty men—and they became an example.

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סנהדרין ק״ה ב:י״ז

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִבִּרְכָתוֹ שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע אַתָּה לָמֵד מָה הָיָה בְּלִבּוֹ. בִּיקֵּשׁ לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ לָהֶם בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת – ״מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ יַעֲקֹב״. לֹא תִּשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָה עֲלֵיהֶם – ״וּמִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל״. לֹא תְּהֵא מַלְכוּתָן נִמְשֶׁכֶת – ״כִּנְחָלִים נִטָּיוּ״. לֹא יְהֵא לָהֶם זֵיתִים וּכְרָמִים – ״כְּגַנֹּת עֲלֵי נָהָר״. לֹא יְהֵא רֵיחָן נוֹדֵף – ״כַּאֲהָלִים נָטַע ה׳״.

Sanhedrin 105b:17

Rabbi Yoḥanan says: From the blessing of that wicked person, Balaam, you can ascertain what was in his heart. God transformed the curses that he planned into blessings. He sought to say that they should not have synagogues and study halls, and he said instead: “How goodly are your tents, Jacob” (Numbers 24:5), a blessing on their synagogues. He sought to say that the Divine Presence [shekhina] will not rest upon them, and he said instead: “And your dwellings [mishkenot] Israel.” He sought to say that the kingdom of Israel would not continue, and he said instead that it would continue: “Like the winding brooks” (Numbers 24:6), which flow continuously. He sought to say that they would have no olive trees and vineyards, and he said instead: “Like gardens by the river’s side” (Numbers 24:6). He sought to say that their fragrance would not diffuse from their fulfillment of mitzvot, and he said instead: “Like aloes that the Lord has planted” (Numbers 24:6).

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