וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח
"Don’t be like Korach.”
Numbers 17:5
“Now Korach, the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi…”�Numbers 16:1
“Korach, like Moshe Rabbeinu, was a Levite and a well-respected leader in his tribe. Indeed, he too possessed a very great and lofty soul and his popularity among people misguided him causing him to dispute Moshe and his brother Aaron’s Divinely appointed leadership.”�R’ Yitzchak Ginsburg, Parshat Korach: The Secret of Aaron’s Staff, Inner.org
“Just as the spies were great leaders, so was Korach, he was not a marginal character. After all, he was the one responsible for carrying the Ark: Our sages said: “Korach was exceedingly wise, and he was among the carriers of the Ark.” (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:3)�R’ Ari Kahn, M’oray HaAish, Korach, Aish.com
“What moved him to start a quarrel? He was moved to it by the fact that Elitzafan, the son of his father’s brother, was appointed prince over his family, as it says, “The prince of the father’s house of the families of the Kehatites was Elitzafan the son of Uzziel” (Numbers 3:30). Korach argued: My father was one of four brothers, as it says, “The sons of Kehat: Amram, and Yitzhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel” (Exodus 4:18). As for Amram the firstborn, his son Aaron attained to greatness, and Moses to royalty. Who then should rightly take the next office? Is it not the next in line? Now I, being the son of Yitzhar, should by right be the leader of the Kehatites. Yet Moses appointed the son of Uzziel! Shall the [son of the] youngest of my father’s brothers be superior to me? Behold, I shall dispute his decision and put to naught all that has been arranged by him . . .”
Midrash Rabbah; Rashi cited at Chabad.org
“Korach wanted to be like Aaron. They were separate entities, each with his own unique qualities. But Korach rebelled against being who he was and thus made strife his way of being. A person must be himself. He must create unity and peace between opposing sides. That is what mitigates Divine decrees (Likutey Moharan I, 46:3).”
REBBE NACHMAN'S TORAH: NUMBERS - DEUTERONOMY - Breslov Insights into the Weekly Torah Reading (p. 80). Breslov Research Institute. Kindle Edition.
“The story is told of Zusha, the great Chassidic master, �who lay crying on his deathbed. His students asked him, �“Rebbe, why are you so sad? After all the mitzvahs and good deeds you have done, you will surely get a great reward in heaven!” “I’m afraid!” said Zusha. “Because when I get to heaven, I know God’s not going to ask me ‘Why weren’t you more like Moses?’ or ‘Why weren’t you more like King David?’ But I’m afraid that God will ask ‘Zusha, why weren’t you more like Zusha?’ And then what will I say?!”�As Great as Moses, Aish.com
“Why does the Torah not say, “And G-d saw that it was good” on the second day of Creation (as it says in all other days)”? Because on that day divisiveness was created: As it is written (Genesis 1:6) “Let there be a firmament within the water, and it shall divide between water and water…”�Midrash Rabbah, cited at Chabad.org, Parsha in Depth
“Anyone who engages in divisiveness transgresses a Divine prohibition, as it is written, “That he be not as Korach �and his company.”�Sanhedrin 110a�Soncino Press Edition
“Korach took – he took himself �away from the community.”�Rashi cited in Rebbe Nachman’s Torah, Volume 3
“Do not separate yourself �from the community.”�Pirkei Avot 2:4
“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.”�Hebrews 10:24-25
“They were jealous of Moshe in the camp, and Aaron the holy one of HaShem. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Aviram. And a fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.”�Psalm 106:16-18
“Cain, Korah, Balaam, Doeg, Ahitophel, Gehazi, Absalom, Adonijah, Uzziah and Haman, who set their eyes upon that which was not proper for them; what they sought was not granted to them and what they possessed was taken from them.”�Sotah 9b
“Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korach. These are grumblers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouths speak great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly desires. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, not having the Spirit.”�Jude 1:11, 16, 19-20
“Normally, when almonds grow, the flowers fall off first. But here a miracle occurred and the flowers, unripened fruit, and almonds all were present at the same time.”�Abarbanel cited at Chabad.org
“Ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath at twilight, and these are they: 1) the mouth of the earth, 2) the mouth of the well, 3) the mouth of the donkey, 4) the rainbow, �5) the manna, 6) the staff [of Moses], �7) the shamir, 8) the letters, 9) the writing, �10) and the tablets.”�Pirkei Avot 5:6, Sefaria.org
“Moreover the word of HaShem came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
Then HaShem said to me, “You have seen well, I will hasten (shoqeid) my word to perform it.”�Jeremiah 1:11
קדש = שקד
Sheked = Kodesh
“Almonds are sweet and also bitter, symbolizing condemnation and acquittal, although every instance in the Bible refers to condemnation only.”�Zohar 2:15b, Soncino Press Edition
“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”�Daniel 12:2-3
“The staffמַטֶה a symbol of leadership, is by definition a barren piece of wood that naturally cannot blossom.”�R’ Yitzchak Ginsburg, Parshat Korach: �The Secret of Aaron’s Staff, Inner.org
“…when jealousy arose concerning the priesthood, and there was dissension among the tribes which of them was adorned with the glorious name, he commanded the twelve chiefs of the tribes to bring to him rods inscribed with the name of each tribe. And he took them and tied them and sealed them with the signet rings of the chiefs of the tribes, and put them away in the tabernacle of the testimony on the table of God…”
“…And having shut the Tabernacle he sealed the keys and likewise also the doors. And he said unto them, "Brethren, the tribe whose rod shall bud, this hath God chosen to be priests and ministers unto Him." Now when morning came, he called together all Israel, even the six hundred thousand men, and showed the seals to the chiefs of the tribes and opened the tabernacle of the testimony and drew forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only with buds, but also bearing fruit."�1 Clement 43:1-5, translated by J.B. Lightfoot, EarlyChristianWritings.com
"Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying, '' Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was still alive, “After three days I will rise again.” Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say to the people, “He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” Pilate said unto them, “You have a guard: go your way, make it as secure as you can. So they went, and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone, and set a watch.”�Matthew 27:62-66
“The Staff of Aaron. That same staff was held in the hand of every king until the Temple was destroyed, and then it was [divinely] hidden away. That same staff also is destined to be held in the hand of the King Messiah (may it be speedily in our days!); as it says,’ The staff of your strength the Lord will send out of Zion: Rule in the midst of your enemies’ (Psalm 110:2).”�Numbers Rabbah 28:23�Soncino Press Edition
מטה אהרון
50 + 6 + 200 + 5 + 1
+ 5 + 9 + 40
ישו
Mateh Aharon = Yeshu
Staff of Aaron = Jesus
“…the staff given to you will be a �Tree of Life - denoting Vav, �which is the son of Yud Hei.”�Zohar, Exodus, Mishpatim, Zohar.com
הִנֵּה מַה־טּוֹב וּמַה־נָּעִים
שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם־יָחַד׃
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! It is like precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aharon’s beard, that came down on the edges of his robes.”�Psalm 133:1-2
“I not only pray for these, but also for those who believe in me through their message, that they all may be one; as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that You have sent me. And the glory which You gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and You in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them, as You have loved me.”�John 20:23
אַשְׁרֵי רֹדְפֵי שָׁלוֹם
כִּי־בְנֵי אֱלֹהִים יִקָּרֵא לָהֶם