Parshat Korach « Torah Weekly « Ohr Somayach

Torah Weekly

For the week ending 28 June 2025 / 2 Tamuz 5785

Parshat Korach

by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair - www.seasonsofthemoon.com
Become a Supporter Library Library

Parsha Overview

Korach, Datan and Aviram, and 250 leaders of Israel rebel against the authority of Moshe and Aharon. The rebellion results in their being swallowed by the earth. Many resent their death and blame Moshe. G-d's "anger" is manifest by a plague that besets the nation, and many thousands perish. Moshe intercedes once again for the people. He instructs Aharon to atone for them and the plague stops.

Then, G-d commands that staffs, each inscribed with the name of one of the tribes, be placed in the Mishkan. In the morning, the staff of Levi, bearing Aharon's name, sprouts, buds, blossoms and yields ripe almonds. This provides Divine confirmation that Levi's tribe is chosen for priesthood and verifies Aharon's position as Kohen Gadol, High Priest. The specific duties of the levi'im and kohanim are stated. The kohanim were not to be landowners, but were to receive their sustenance from the tithes and other mandated gifts brought by the people. Also taught in this week's Torah portion are the laws of the first fruits, redemption of the firstborn and various laws of offerings.

Parsha Insights

An Iron Dome of Love

I’m speaking to you from Jerusalem. The Holy City. Everything is quiet now, but last night a rocket slammed into an apartment building in Bat Yam. Police say six people were killed in the city including two children. Seven more are missing and emergency services are searching through the rubble of destroyed buildings.

As the rescuers search through the ruins of those charred buildings, we need to search through our neshamas, our souls. Our neshamas are open now; open in sadness, but also open in hope and trust in Hashem - Who is all love and kindness. Our hearts are open to teshuva, to repentance. To fix, to improve.

On Shabbos night, at 2 in the morning, the sirens began their mournful wail, and we too rushed to our shelter for the second time that night. My three-year-old grandson, Dovid, said to his father, “Daddy, soon their batteries are going to run out from all the sirens and they will all die.”

They asked Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, “What should a father say to his children? They are afraid.” Rav Landau answered, “A parent should tell them that Hashem runs the world. Tell the children that Hashem loves us and has mercy on us.”

They asked him if everything would be okay. The Rosh Yeshiva replied, “Of course. Hashem loves us and we will continue doing good things so that He will continue to love us and shower us with kindness.”

When Rav Landau was asked how we should strengthen ourselves in mitzvahs, he replied, “Do only good things, only sweet things.” They asked, “What is meant by ‘sweet things?’”

“That it should be pleasant to hear,” Rav Landau added. “Such as speaking kindly to one another.”

Everything should be sweet and not sharp like a bitter drug. Sweet. Hashem will help. The “battlefield” is not only in Iran, it’s not only in Bat Yam. It is in our hearts and is in our homes.

A kind word shoots down a missile. Letting go of resentment stops the enemy from enriching fissile material. Averting one’s eyes when necessary, causes a terrorist to avert his eyes and miss his target.

Going easy on your children, on your spouse, on the person next to you in shul, creates an Iron Dome of Love that no enemy of the Jewish People can ever even hope to pierce.

© 1995-2025 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to Torah Weekly

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.