Parshat Korach, Numbers 16:1- 18:31
This week’s torah portion, Korach, is all about the rebellion of Moses’ and Aaron’s cousin Korach. He challenges them for the leadership of the people and the priesthood. But God reminds the children of Israel and in particular, Korach and his followers that Moses and Aaron are the chosen leaders, chosen by God.
Moses quashes their rebellion and God further consolidates the power of Aaron and his descendants and the Levites as the priesthood. So that there are no further insurrections or complaints, God instructs Moses to take the staff of leadership from each tribal head and inscribe it with the name of the elder. Also Moses receives a staff from the tribe of Levi with Aaron’s name. These are placed overnight in the Tent of Meeting near the Ark of the Covenant. God told Moses the staff that blooms-that will be the one who is the rightful leader of the Priesthood. The next day-Moses brought out all of the staffs. Each chieftain identified his and of course, Aaron’s staff is the one in full bloom. “There the staff of Aaron and the house of Levi had sprouted; it had brought forth sprouts, produced blossom, and borne almonds.” (Num. 17:23). This miracle of the blooming staff, visible to all Israel, further elevates Aaron and the tribe of Levi as the priesthood. Although they had been duly ordained and installed this crowning miracle put to rest any questions of authority. This staff or Aaron’s was stored in the Tent of meeting in the holy of holies as a future testament to this miraculous elevation.
Midrash Rabbah teaches us about this story in the Torah: “Why almonds and not pomegranates or nuts? Because Israel was compared to the two latter. The same staff was held in the hand of every king (of Israel) until the Temple was destroyed and then it was divinely hidden away. That same staff also is destined to be held in the hand of the Messiah as it says. The staff of your strength Adonai will send out of Zion: Rule in the midst of your enemies (Ps. 30:2) (p. 744, Soncino, Midrash Rabbah, Numbers II).
This staff became the symbol of Divine selection and divine rule used not only by the Aaron and the priesthood but according to tradition the Kings of Israel (Saul, David and Solomon) and ultimately the Messiah in days to come.
Today we still await the Messiah. In Reform Jewish tradition we no longer pray for an individual to return and single being who will change our world and bring about a time of Divine healing and a time of restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem. We pray for a time of Messianic ideals. Ideals of a world at peace and a world healed of its violence, ignorance and injustices. This is why we work so hard for social justice. This is why the Reform Judaism is so dedicated to the ideals of tikkun olam—healing and repair of our world. We cannot simply stand idly by the blood of our neighbor. We cannot simply stand by when others are in pain or the injustices of society are heaped upon one group. We are commanded to speak up and make a difference.
This is how we will once again see the flowering rod of Aaron—when we help the world to flower and bloom.
Posted by Eric at June 22, 2009 09:35 AM
