Parshat Korach; Numbers 16:1 – 18:32 by Rabbi Denise L. Egger
The name of this portion is taken from the leader of the rebellion against Moses and Aaron, their cousin Korach. He challenges them for leadership of the people Israel not fully aware of God’s hand in anointing Moses and Aaron as the leaders of the Israelites.
Korach foments rebellion among a significant number of Israelites. He challenges and is resoundingly trounced by God, swallowed up by the earth! Korach has missed the fact that God chose the leadership. He mistakenly assumes that God’s favor will descend upon whoever is in leadership. Instead for his hubris, he is destroyed and a significant number of Israelites with him. The Torah text speaks loudly that the Divine favor rests upon Moses and Aaron and their descendants.
Towards the end of the portion the sacred donations to the Levites and Cohanim are discussed. These gifts are further proof of God’s favor toward the descendants of Aaron and the family of Moses and Aaron (who both descend from the house of Levi). If any lingering doubt remains about who the chosen leadership is, then these gifts are further reinforcement of God’s blessing upon them.
The Levites are given specific responsibilities to minister in the sacred precincts of the Tent of the Pact (as it is called in Num. 18:2). The Levites who assist the priests (descendants of Aaron) serve in the outer areas but not inside the shrine. “They shall be attached to you (Aaron) and discharge the duties of the Tent of Meeting, all the service of the Tent; but no outsider shall intrude upon you. As you discharge the duties connected with the shrine and the altar, that wrath may not again strike the Israelites.”
(Num. 18:4-5).
All the donations, from heave offerings to wave offerings are for the priests and their descendants. “All the sacred gifts that the Israelites set aside for God Igive to you, to your sons, and to the daughters that are with you as a due for all time. (Num. 18:19).
The Levites and Cohanim, who will have no portion in the future territory of Israel, receive a different kind eternal inheritance; the support of the Israelites through the sacred donations.
But even the priests must take out a tithe from the sacred donations as their own gift to God. Thus they are not entitled to the whole sacred donation. This principle teaches us that no matter our role, no matter our station, we all must give tzedakah- our modern equivilent of the sacred sacrifice, and tithe. We must support the community institutions. Tradition teaches us that even the poorest among us who subsist on the donations given by the community must in turn donate back a portion for tzedakah. All must contribute to the welfare of the community. Even those who are its beneficiaries.
Posted by Lee at June 26, 2006 10:55 AM
