Parashat Korach (Numbers: 16:1 - 18:32)

by Rabbi Pete Tobias, The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

Summary:

If the book of Numbers were to have an alternative title, it would probably be ‘the book of whingeing.’  The account of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness is punctuated with frequent occasions when the people complain bitterly to Moses and Aaron about how dreadful conditions are and how much better they would have been had they stayed in Egypt.  The latest episode in this tale of ongoing complaint is when one group of priests, led by Korach, challenges the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  The outcome of their challenge is to see them swallowed up by the earth, and the portion then continues by reinforcing the superiority of Aaron and his sons.

Commentary:

One would assume that the disappearance of Korach and his followers would mean that they would not have any role to play in the Temple in Jerusalem, since its establishment was several centuries after the events described in the Torah.  Strange then to note that several of the Psalms are attributed to the Korachites – a group which, according to this week’s Torah portion, were swallowed up in the wilderness.

Yet, mysteriously, this extinct group of priests managed to compose eleven of the 150 Psalms (if you want to check, they’re Psalms 42, 44-49, 84,85,87 and 88).  Of these, the most revealing is probably Psalm 88, which includes the line ‘…I am counted among those who go down to the pit (the Hebrew is She’ol, often translated as ‘underworld’); I am like a man without strength….’  This has an uncanny resonance with the events that are reported to have befallen Korach and his followers in the wilderness.

It would seem that there was, at some point in Jerusalem’s history, a power struggle between the priestly group or family of Korach and that of Aaron.  The fact that Aaron won this power struggle is clear because of the emphasis that is given to Aaron and his sons throughout those sections of the book of Leviticus that have anything to do with priestly ritual.  Perhaps it is not stretching the bounds of probability too far to suggest that the priestly author of these sections, who was no doubt sympathetic to, if not indeed a member of, the Aaronide priestly group, chose to include in his contribution a report of his group’s victory over the priests of Korach.  Placing this event in the wilderness gave it extra authenticity and consigned the hapless Korachites to ignominy and oblivion.

Nevertheless, it is interesting to note the basis of Korach’s unsuccessful rebellion.  From a twenty-first century perspective – and particularly a Liberal one – Korach’s plea has a certain authenticity to it.  As verse 3 of chapter 16 tells us, Korach merely points out that every Israelite is holy to God; on what basis do Moses and Aaron set themselves above the rest?  This may be the first example of democracy to appear in human society but its appearance is rather short-lived.  Moses and Aaron, whose traditional response when confronted by any protest is to fall on their faces, are vindicated by God and Aaron is confirmed as the High Priest in chapters 17 and 18.

The distinction between descendants of Aaron (kohanim), Levites and the rest of the Israelites is still maintained in Orthodox Judaism – for example when the first aliyah for a Torah reading is given to a kohen or when special sections of cemeteries are set aside for kohanim.  Liberal Judaism considers it improbable that modern day Jews can trace their roots back to these biblical ancestors and treats all Jews equally.  As such, it might be said, we are sympathetic to Korach and the rebels of Numbers chapter 16.  It is to be hoped that our democratic stance will fare better in the modern worlds than it did in ancient Jerusalem.

Rabbi Pete Tobias

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

You can hear Rabbi Pete Tobias with Aled Jones on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Good Morning Sunday on Sunday 24th June from 7.40 – 8.00 am. 

His new book ‘Liberal Judaism: A Judaism for the Twenty-First Century’ is now available from www.liberaljudaism.org