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A Wrong Way To Do The Right Thing: Parashat Korach
Korach was correct in how he felt, but his implementation of his desires and intentions were what lead him and his gang down the wrong path and resulted in their ultimate demise, their ultimate end.
So, why and how was Korach correct in how he felt? Because he saw the inner "Aaron HaKohen Gadol" and the inner "Mosheh Rabbeynu HaNasi" in all Jews. This is a very holy, noble, Altruistic notion. But he saw this truth from the wrong perspective; as his desires and intentions were not for the Sake of Heaven, they were corrupted by his Egoism. He saw through malnourished "insight" that he possessed great merit, but his "insight" lead him to think it was immediate. Him being in that state, he jumped the gun, he didn't realize that his lineage would produce righteous men of Yisrael. His fame would only be revealed in the future, not then. He perceived that the time was now.
What he saw for all Jews, was not ready in its time... thus he ate from an unripe fruit. In acting upon his undeveloped and Egoistic desires and intentions; he went about it all wrong, leading hundreds of Jews down the wrong path, therefore challenging G-d's explicit instructions. He was instigating turmoil and causing trouble amongst the people, forming an uprising against Mosheh and Aaron. When he brought his gang in front of them, he was beefing with and challenging Mosheh and Aaron (Rabbinic and Priestly authority) but he and his gang were so shortsighted that it didn't dawn on him or them that he and they was really rebelling against G-d and His Torah (Divine Authority). It is not by coincidence that Parashat Korach opens up immediately after the Mitzvah of Tzitzit and Tekhelet in the end of Parashat Shelach.
This is a lesson that we must follow G-d's Torah and Mitzvot in the natural order, which requires obeying the authorities that G-d appointed to the task and encouraging others to do the same. It is also a lesson that we must work to develop our desires and intentions in the right way, through Altruism, so that our actions and words will produce good fruits, so that we can make the right decisions and go about things the right way; and so that we will be a positive influence on others. HaShem said that He will make Yisrael "a Kingdom of Kohanim and a Holy Nation." This does not suggest that we go against the natural order that the Torah employs, for that only produces chaos.
If Korach was truly ready, if his desires and intentions were properly developed Altruistically... he would have followed Mosheh and Aaron instead of rebelling against them and G-d, and against G-d's Torah... and that would have truly revealed his inner "Aaron HaKohen Gadol" and his inner "Mosheh Rabbeynu HaNasi" and thus would have set the right example for everyone else to follow. His negative influence cost hundreds of Jews their lives. Imagine if he went about it the right way.
On the deepest level however, Korach did in fact teach us very powerful and valuable lessons for all generations... which is why he was rewarded with this Parshah being named after him.
Always remember, there is a wrong way to do the right thing. Make sure, in the best of your ability, that you do not be like Korach. By learning from his sins and mistakes, we can work towards elevating Korach and his men to the status he had envisioned and therefore work towards elevating all of Yisrael to the status he envisioned. By doing this we work to elevate ourselves.
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