DISCERNMENT

iLife Lessons from the Torah Portion Parshah: Korach; Numbers 16:1–18:32

Korach confronts Moshe together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly in an act of open rebellion. The source of this revolt becomes a deep spiritual lesson for all of us in our personal and corporate lives.

It is not happenstance, as we shall see , that this rebellion occurs immediately following the commandments regarding the Tzitzit. "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels( Tzitzit) on the corners of your garments, with a blue TCHELLET cord on each tassel.( Numbers 15:38) .

What then is that connection and what is the lesson to be learned ?

The free world is sinking into the whirlpool of indecision. Differences between good and evil and darkness and light have become blurred and obscured. Leaders are chosen not because of their ability to cut through the haze, but rather their ability to increase the haze through verbal calisthenics. The increasing of the blurring and the haziness helps dispel the harsh corners and jagged edges of reality. We have already seen how this wave of Relativism has swept away courage and fortitude.

It has become politically correct, and even advisable, to deal with evil as if it does not really exist. Evil is, in fact, be explained away with socioeconomic and political influences.

We have already seen how this wave of Relativism has swept away courage and fortitude from the European continent. We saw the havoc it has woven into the political discourse in America. Everything is considered a valid expression of selfish whims and predilections. Nothing can be considered invalid in this onslaught of relativism without discernment except for the voices calling for rational and clear headed discernment.

Regrettably when “discernment” is silenced , then continuing on a journey can be a very dangerous venture.

We read the following in the Torah portion of Korach;

Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath… confronted Moshe together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly, men of repute. They assembled against Moshe and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and Hashem is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above Hashem's assembly?"( Numbers 16:1-3)

Rashi explains regarding the dramatic statement":"You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy:". In the following way. Korach said to them: All heard at Sinai the commandment, “I am the L‑rd your G‑d”! But now that they have all heard it, “why do you raise yourselves above the congregation of G‑d?”

The Midrash tells the following story; Korach took two hundred and fifty magistrates, most of them from the tribe of Reuben his neighbors, and dressed them in garments that were wholly of the TCHELLET blue wool. They came and stood before Moshe and asked him: “If a garment is made entirely of blue wool, what is the law as regards it being exempted from the obligation of tzitzit?” Moshe answered them: “It is subject to the obligation of tzitzit.” They began to laugh at him, saying: “If a garment of another sort is absolved by a single thread of blue wool, this garment, composed wholly of blue wool, cannot absolve itself?”( Midrash Rabbah)

Essentially Korach is telling Moshe” everybody is holy. Everybody heard G-d at Mount Sinai. You have no right to stand above or lead this people any more than I do”.

Yet towards the end of the Torah portion of Shelach we read:

"Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them throughout their generations fringes in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of TCHELLET blue. …and that ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go astray; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God." (Numbers 15:38-40)

In the Mishnah Berakhot 1:2, we learn the following ruling: "From when may one recite the Shema in the morning? From when one can distinguish between TCHELLET and white."

On the practical level, we are being taught the appropriate times for the Shema prayer. On a deeper level, we are told much more. Night and darkness represents the times of exile and tribulation in this world. In order to truly comprehend the beginning of daybreak and the beginnings of change, we need to be able to discern the difference between the Biblical blue color of TCHELLET from the white. This Biblical blue, which represented G-d's throne of Glory, needs to be discerned in order to understand the process of redemption. Not being able to make that discernment leaves us in darkness.

In our days Universalism has become the battle cry. There is nothing wrong or harmful in looking for the things that bring mankind together or the simple truth of the equality of all mankind. Yet equality does not mean sameness. Equality does not imply a denial of self. Equality also does not mean losing the power of discernment. It does not mean losing the ability to understand right and wrong, at what is healthy and unhealthy.

The world will very quickly be made to understand the dangers of this lack of discernment. Reality has a way of overwhelming and engulfing people and ideas that have no anchor in truth.” The earth beneath them opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses, “(Numbers 16:32).

That may be a very painful experience but a necessary one nevertheless.

LeRefuat Yehudit Bat Golda Yocheved