Rabbi gunther plaut, writing in the reform movements recent commentary on the torah, calls these chapters the rebellion of korach, dathan, and abiram. Now, korach, a levite, along with two sons of eliab, decided to rise up against moses with the support of 250 community leaders. Explore the weekly torah portions, commentaries, and listen to scripture readings, and get the free torah reading schedule. Moses cousin korah allies with two disgruntled reubenites, dathan and abiram, to challenge his right to lead. Rabbi seymour rossel is the author of the wise folk of chelm and more than thirty other books, including the torah. This weeks torah reading tells the story of how korah led an unsuccessful rebellion. The difference between korach and moses in this was that korach acted upon this desire, in defiance of the divine decree. The events in the torah portion of korach, the rebellion that korach led against moses, occurs after the sin of the spies and the decree of forty years of wandering in the desert.
According to jacob milgrom jps torah commentary, 1990, p. They combined against moses and aaron, saying youve gone too far. Hebrew for the name korah, which in turn means baldness, ice, hail, or frost, the second word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah is the 38th weekly torah portion. The levite korah son of izhar joined with the reubenites dathan and abiram sons of eliab and on son of peleth and 250 chieftains of the israelite community to rise up against moses. He shall choose those who shall be allowed to present offerings to him.
Furthermore korach actually went on to have a descendant that was as great as moshe and aharon that was samuel. Jtss extensive online torah resources reflect todays most compelling conversations, research, and teaching from leaders in jewish studyall available for learners around the world to explore and enjoy. It is also the name of the thirtyeighth reading from the torah. This chapter is beautifully expounded by midrash r tanchuma. And when moses replies in the affirmative, korach laughs at the apparent lack of logic in moses. It can also mean the continued narrative from all the 24 books, from the book of genesis to the end of. Torah reading, haftarah, links to audio and commentary. Although korach did not question moshes role as the king, he attacked his position as the supervisor over the peoples fulfillment of the mitzvos and as the teacher of torah. Learning to live with clergykillers korach is a fascinating torah portion because, as happens so. Korach incites a mutiny challenging moses leadership and the granting of the kehunah to aaron. Brilliant and charismatic, he could have been a contender. Based on the laws of inheritance, the torah states that the bechor first born takes a double portion of the inheritance. Vayikach korach benyitshar benkehat benlevi vedatan vaaviram beney eliav veon benpelet beney reuven.
The torah portion of korach begins with a rebellion against the leadership of moses and his brother aaron. In addition, he has edited some 300 books, working with. The torahkorach wikibooks, open books for an open world. Torah portion korach complete wisdom in torah ministries. The spiritual quest, a childs bible, when a jew prays, when a jew seeks wisdom, a thousand and one chickens, and managing the jewish classroom. The purpose of the techeiles fringe is to remind the wearer to perform the mitzvos when you see it, you will remember all of gds commandments and do them 15. Korachs sons did survive megilla 14a, one of his sons, asaf, went on to become a composer of many of the psalms we read in the book of tehillim, he became a very righteous man. He says that even though gd has the power to save an innocent person in the midst of a disaster, nevertheless he either wanted to the jews to stay. In fact, in the torah portion, the rebel korach challenges moshe and aharon on the basis of a political claim. It tells of korahs failed attempt to overthrow moses. It comes from the first verse of this weeks reading, which says, now korah the son of izhar. Torah for tots included in the book of numbers is the story of korach and his followers, dathan and abiran, who lead a revolt against moses and aaron. Included in the book of numbers is the story of korach and his followers, dathan and abiran, who lead a revolt against moses and aaron. Moses told korah and his band to take their fire pans and put fire and incense on them before god.
Torah for tweens did you know there was a rebellion among the israelites in the torah. Rebellion the torah tells the tale of korah, cousin to moses and aaron, who leads a rebellion against their authority. The five books of moses by sol scharfstein is a new, highly readable translation of the torah, judaism s most sacred text, and is accompanied by interpretations of over 2,000 biblical passages. Korach is the second word in the parashah ands the 38th weekly torah portion. Biblical scholars differ in their opinions about the time line of the events that are chronicled in the book of numbers. Joining them are 250 distinguished members of the community, who offer the sacrosanct ketoret incense to prove their worthiness for the priesthood. Torah portions schedule download or order our free torah portions reading schedules for 5778 201718. A community of messianic youth strengthening the bonds of faith through events and learning opportunities.
His name was rabbi israel danziger, known today by the title of his book of inspirational homilies, yismach yisrael. Parashat korach commentary 2 parashat korach commentary 2 korach. Parshas korach out of bounds 5771 parshas korach creative religious response. Haftarah readings generally follow the ashkenazi tradition. The earth opens up and swallows the mutineers, and a fire. Verse numbering generally follows the hebrew tradition, and where modern christian traditions differ those verse numbers are shown in parentheses. Yet again moses is faced with a peoples rebellion, but this time it questions his right of leadership. To make matters worse, they recruit 250 men from the tribal leadership to join them. Other words formed from this root include edah, a congregation, edut, a testimony, and so on. Torah portion readings and the associated haftarah readings generally follow the stone edition chumash andor the complete jewish bible.
That generation of israelites, known as the generation of the desert, would never cross the jordan river, would never enter the promised land. Tomorrow morning, he said, god will show that he knows who is his and who is holy, and he will bring them close to him. Both stories are about power, politics, and authority, which are not always the same thing. Torah parashah korach assembly of calledout believers. Teaching the torah and its way of life, fully centered on the jewish messiah to.
Korach understood that moshe and aaron being the sons of the first born deserved to receive the first two appointments the king and the high priest respectively. Twas arrogance and jealousy, pride and a lack of faith in both moshe and hashem which swallowed up korach, causing his precipitous demise. For your information teaching of korah torah portion 2015 by daniel is cut off at about 00. Vayedaber elkorach veelkoladato lemor boker veyoda adonay etasherlo veethakadosh vehikriv elav veet asher yivcharbo. The central element of the sabbath service in the synagogue is the public chanting of the appropriate torah portion for the week. Moses defends himself against the rebels by saying that. He is accompanied by moses inveterate foes, dathan and abiram. In this torah portion, korach and his followers accuse moses and aaron of taking power and prestige for themselves at the expense of the community. Go up since for each aliya, one person goes up to make a bracha blessing on the torah reading. Within this framework, and depending on the context, the term torah can mean. Korach or korah hebrew for the name korah, which in turn means baldness, ice, hail, or frost, the second word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah is the 38th weekly torah portion, parashah in the annual jewish cycle of torah reading and the fifth in the book of numbers. The shabbos torah reading is divided into 7 sections. Its a late in the day drasha, so rather than detailed textual commentary ill offer a more general thought about the conjoined stories of our torah portion and haftarah.
In the torah, these holidays are called appointed times i. Divrei torah, inspiration, ethics and stories for all ages. Matnot kehunah mean that a person dedicates the choicest portions of the yield of his material labors to a spiritual cause. This explains why our torah reading is named korach. The portion ends with a reiteration of aarons priestly duties in the service of god, as well as specific gifts to be apportioned to the priests and levites. Our torah portion for this week parashat emor lists the eight main holidays revealed in the jewish scriptures.
Like all who reach too far, korach was ultimately buried by his own perfidy, avarice, and unbridled ambition. Korach incites a mutiny challenging moses leadership and the granting of the kehunah priesthood to aaron. He took himself to a different side, 2 to be disassociated from the community and to cast aspersion on the kehunah. Korach, along with dattan, aviram, and 250 men from shevet reuven, challenged moshe and aharons leadership. The concept of matnot kehunah, the gifts given to the kohen, represents the crux of korach s objection to the priorities taught by moses. Articles on the weekly torah portion, parsha, from beginner to advanced levels. Parsha summary haftorah summary haftorah commentary legacy drasha. First reading korach son of yitzhar a grandson of kehoth and greatgrandson of levi began a rebellion along with dathan and aviram sons of eliav and on son of peleth, descendants of reuben. Korach or korah hebrew for the name kora h, which in turn means baldness, ice, hail, or frost, the second word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah is the 38th weekly torah portion. Our faculty and teachers bring the depth and breadth of jts learning directly to you through a rich collection of contemporary jewish content. The talmud tells us that it is forbidden to name ones child after a wicked person, in keeping with the rule, the memory of the righteous should be to blessing.
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