The fundamental reason of Korach discord was due to the fact that Levi [son of Yaakov] had 4 sons: Amram, Yitshar, Chevron and Uziel. The rationale of Korach was that Moshe and Aharon were the sons of Amram [levi’s oldest Son] therefore they took the most prominent positions among the Jewish nation. However, the Prince of the Tribe of Levi was Elitsafan, the son of Uziel. Korach, since he was learnt and rich, so he felt that he deserved that position as he was the son of Yitshar, the second Son of Levi. So, in his crooked mind he rationalized that Hashem is Just, so if Moshe was really appointing people in accordance with Hashem, he should’ve been appointed Prince of the Leviim. Since, he didn’t get the appointment it meant Moshe was an impostor and was appointing whoever he wanted. Therefore, it must’ve been that Moshe and Aharon usurp their own positions.

One of the most difficult problems is that people are dragged into polemics and forget the truth. Suddenly, fueling the controversy and proving one’s side become of greater value than the truth itself. The very example this statement is; the arrogant reply of Dathan and Aviram to Moshe [about the rationale that it was best to return to Egypt rather than entering the Land of Israel]. They said Egypt was “a land of gold and honey.”

It’s a truly amazing quote: have they forgotten the children who were drowned? Have they forgotten about the strenuous and arduous labor? Have they forgotten all about the very hard slavery and the torture? Suddenly Egypt is a land flowing with milk and honey? This is the destructive power of the dispute. This is what the Torah warns us about in this Parasha; that the parties of a dispute have tendency to rationalize the irrational. This is the pitfall of all discords, and this fuel further the fire of the discord.

The Zohar relates that the first dispute happened on the first day of the creation. After Hashem created the Light and the Darkness, immediately they started fighting. The Light wanted to benefit even the sinners, as they’re no Jew that has not accomplished good deeds. While the Darkness wanted to punish even the Tsadikim [the Just], as they’re no human who has not sinned. The fire of this discord created the Gehinom [hell]. This teaches us that there’s no right in a discord, both sides will end up in Gehinom. That’s the reason, while usually Hashem doesn’t punish a person before he’s 20 years old, by Korach even infants died. Because the discord has another set of rules. The lesson is: there’s no winner in a fight, but 2 losers.

On the other hand says the Zohar, that if a person refuses to take part in the fight and gives in for the sake of Shalom, he will deserve the Heavenly lights and with them all the Blessings. So, to the human eye it seems that the side giving in is the wrongdoer, however, Hashem the ultimate Judge, knows why that person gave in and will shower him with all the blessings.

By Rabbi Shimon Fridmann – Din Torah Of North Miami Beach

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