RABBI WEIN BLINDED BY SELF INTEREST

Parshat Korach The litany of disappointments and failures, of the generation of Jews that left Egyptian bondage, continues in this week’s Torah Portion. Except, this parsha relates to us not so much in describing a direct confrontation with God and His express wishes, so to speak, but rather tells of a challenge to Moshe and his authority to lead the Jewish people. Korach essentially engages in a coup, a power-grabbing attempt to replace Moshe from his leadership role and Aharon from his position as the High Priest of Israel. Throughout the ages, the Torah scholars and commentators of the Jewish people have attempted to appreciate and understand what Korach’s true motivations were, to engage in such a clearly suicidal attempt. After all, Korach was also aware that Moshe’s countenance radiated Heavenly light that forced him to mask that countenance when dealing with human beings.