If ever there was an example that power corrupts, Korach and his evil assembly definitely take the cake. Our rabbis ask what led Korach to dispute with Moses? He was jealous of the princely position of Elizaphan son of Uziel, whom Moses had appointed prince. Korach said: "Who is fit to take the second position of greatness, is it not I? Yet, Moses appointed as prince the son of his brother, who is youngest of all the brothers, behold I will dispute his words."
We also find in the case of Korach that through Divine inspiration, he foresaw that great descendents would come forth from him. As Rashi teaches us that Korach was a clever person, what is it that he saw which led him to this folly? His eyes led him to error. He saw a great chain of descendants emerging from him. First he saw the that prophet Samuel, who was as important as Moses and Aharon together, would descend from him, and so he said to himself: "Because of him I will escape!" Then, he saw that there would be 24 watchers of the Temple service from among his descendants, all of them prophesying with divine inspiration. Korach said to himself: "Is it possible that all this greatness is destined to be established from me, even as I remain silent?"
The Midrash teaches us that Korach heard from the mouth of Moses that all of the 250 rebels would perish and only one would escape destruction. Korach assumed that he was the one to whom Moses referred. But Korach did not see well, for his sons repented and it was their illustrious descendants whom Korach saw prophetically.
One question, though, comes to mind. One question so great that it throws light on our present situation taking place today in Erez Israel. Korach knew that all the other 250 rebels would die, including his sons; still, his quest for power was so great that it would come even at the cost of his own sons' lives! Mind blowing as it may seem to us, Korach was willing to sacrifice his sons' lives in order for him to be the top man.
Today, too, we can find many corrupt politicians who are willing to do anything to hold on to the power. Just last week, we saw emerge from two journalists the story (which we have been saying all along) of how Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - in order to save himself and his sons from indictment and jail time - has sold the country down the river with the Disengagement Plan. He is willing to uproot some 9,000 Jews from their homes and endanger the entire country - with untold numbers of Jewish soldiers killed trying to retake the area - just to save himself and his sons from prison. You might be saying that it cannot be true, but this is exactly the case of Korach, who was willing to sacrifice his children for the sake of power.
But it was not to be for the Korachs and the rebels of this world. HaShem sent a clear sign for all to see, with the earth opening up its mouth and swallowing all the evil assembly. And if this was not enough, we find that the staff of Aharon blossomed, while the staff of the other tribes did not, showing that the kehuna was his and his descendents' forever. Then the staffs were placed in the Temple for all to see. This, then, became the symbol that HaShem had chosen Aharon and his descendents for priesthood.
Today, too, we are raising our orange banners on our cars, houses, bags and on our wrists, showing our commitment to the Land of Israel. Even as the courts of Israel order the Jerusalem municipality to raise the flag of abomination, that of "gay rights", over City Hall - a mark of tremendous chilul HaShem - we will continue to raise our banner of Jewish pride and love for our Land - until the whole country will be turned orange!
We also find in the case of Korach that through Divine inspiration, he foresaw that great descendents would come forth from him. As Rashi teaches us that Korach was a clever person, what is it that he saw which led him to this folly? His eyes led him to error. He saw a great chain of descendants emerging from him. First he saw the that prophet Samuel, who was as important as Moses and Aharon together, would descend from him, and so he said to himself: "Because of him I will escape!" Then, he saw that there would be 24 watchers of the Temple service from among his descendants, all of them prophesying with divine inspiration. Korach said to himself: "Is it possible that all this greatness is destined to be established from me, even as I remain silent?"
The Midrash teaches us that Korach heard from the mouth of Moses that all of the 250 rebels would perish and only one would escape destruction. Korach assumed that he was the one to whom Moses referred. But Korach did not see well, for his sons repented and it was their illustrious descendants whom Korach saw prophetically.
One question, though, comes to mind. One question so great that it throws light on our present situation taking place today in Erez Israel. Korach knew that all the other 250 rebels would die, including his sons; still, his quest for power was so great that it would come even at the cost of his own sons' lives! Mind blowing as it may seem to us, Korach was willing to sacrifice his sons' lives in order for him to be the top man.
Today, too, we can find many corrupt politicians who are willing to do anything to hold on to the power. Just last week, we saw emerge from two journalists the story (which we have been saying all along) of how Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - in order to save himself and his sons from indictment and jail time - has sold the country down the river with the Disengagement Plan. He is willing to uproot some 9,000 Jews from their homes and endanger the entire country - with untold numbers of Jewish soldiers killed trying to retake the area - just to save himself and his sons from prison. You might be saying that it cannot be true, but this is exactly the case of Korach, who was willing to sacrifice his children for the sake of power.
But it was not to be for the Korachs and the rebels of this world. HaShem sent a clear sign for all to see, with the earth opening up its mouth and swallowing all the evil assembly. And if this was not enough, we find that the staff of Aharon blossomed, while the staff of the other tribes did not, showing that the kehuna was his and his descendents' forever. Then the staffs were placed in the Temple for all to see. This, then, became the symbol that HaShem had chosen Aharon and his descendents for priesthood.
Today, too, we are raising our orange banners on our cars, houses, bags and on our wrists, showing our commitment to the Land of Israel. Even as the courts of Israel order the Jerusalem municipality to raise the flag of abomination, that of "gay rights", over City Hall - a mark of tremendous chilul HaShem - we will continue to raise our banner of Jewish pride and love for our Land - until the whole country will be turned orange!