Rabbi Pini Pink, Chabad of Greenstone
Korach was no ordinary rabble-rouser; he was a leading member of the Levite family. Joining him in his uprising against Moses and Aaron were “two hundred and fifty men of Israel, leaders of the community, of those regularly called to assembly, men of renown”.
Korach’s differences with Moses was an ideological one, driven by the way in which he understood Israel’s relationship with G d and by the manner in which he felt the nation ought to be structured. He was challenging Moses and Aaron in their roles as leaders of the Jewish nation. Korach wanted everyone to have equal roles; he was the first one to advocate communism.
In Ethics of our Fathers we are taught: “Make for yourself a rabbi”. The role of a Jewish leader, is to help each person connect to their source, G-d.
We find ourselves a few days before the 3rd of Tammuz the date of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. To the Rebbe the entire People of Israel were his concern, and a deep concern.
Jews in every corner of the world, no matter how forsaken and no matter how small in number, were on his mind and in his heart and soul.
The Rebbe would not acknowledge division or separation. Every Jew – indeed every human being – has a unique role to play in the greater scheme of things and is an integral part of the tapestry of G-d’s creation.
For nearly five of the most critical decades in recent history, the Rebbe’s goal to reach out to every corner of the world with love and concern, has unfolded dramatically. No sector of the community has been excluded – young and old; men and women; leader and layman; scholar and labourer; student and teacher; children, and even infants.
With great insight, he perceived the potential in each person. His inspiration, now accessible through his writings and videos, helps to ignite one’s awareness of that hidden wealth and motivates a desire to fulfil one’s potential.
The same strong, if subtle, message is imparted: “You are Divinely gifted with enormous strength and energy – actualise it!”
We can take an appropriate lesson from this week’s portion; so, let’s not get caught up in the wrong type of idealism. With the direction of our leaders we can all make the world a better place and usher in the final redemption with the coming of Moshiach, though, as the Rebbe said many times, everybody increasing in acts of goodness and kindness.
