Dasan and Avirom went out and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, children, and babies. (Bamidbar 16:27)
Come see how destructive disputes are because earthly courts only give punishments when they have reached 13 years old. Heavenly courts only give punishments when they have reached 20 years old. But here, even nursing babies perished. (RASHI)

Last week, I told a story about a camper I once had named Charlie. Actually, I had Charlie as a camper for two years in a row. During my first summer with Charlie, he was one of my favorites. He was a cute, chubby little boy with a great sense of humor. He was always in a cheerful mood and was usually easy to deal with. When I saw him on my list of campers the next year, I was excited to have the opportunity to spend another 8 weeks with him. But, I quickly realized this second summer would not be the same as the first. He was much more difficult to deal with and became one of the hardest campers in the group to keep under control. His smile was gone. His sense of humor was gone. What had happened? Well, I got my answer one afternoon when I spoke to his mother regarding his behavior that day when she picked him up. His mother told me that she and Charlie’s dad were getting divorced.

Many divorces come from disputes, which as Rashi states, is so destructive that even nursing babies perish. Divorces affect everyone – not only the parents, but the children also.

One of the keys to avoid divorce can be learned from this week’s parsha. Korach comes to Moshe with a complaint. On a house filled with holy scriptures, why does he need a mezuza? The mezuza is only 2 paragraphs from the Torah. Why does he need this little reminder on his door when his whole house is filled with words of Torah?

Our Sages of blessed memory had two opinions regarding how a person should affix a mezuza to his doorpost. One opinion stated it should be placed in a vertical direction. The second opinion stated it should be in a horizontal direction. In Jewish law, when there are two opinions from our Sages, usually only one of the opinions is followed. The placement of a mezuza is an exception to this rule. The law states we should compromise the two rulings and put the mezuza in a slanted direction. The reason for this is to teach us a lesson. This is the first thing a husband and wife see as they enter their house. It is to remind them that once they enter through this doorway, they will need to compromise with each other. Each side needs to give to their spouse. Korach did not believe he needed a mezuza as a reminder – and his life was full of disputes.

Our Sages tell us at every divorce, the Holy Altar cries. The reason the Holy Altar cries and not a different holy object is because the Holy Altar would receive the Jew’s offerings. To bring an offering, a person needs to give. The reason two people get divorced is because they do not give to each other.

Unfortunately, the Holy Altar is not the only one that cries. The children also cry and I have unfortunately seen too many times when children have been crying. Let’s do our part to make sure our own children do not cry more than is necessary.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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