The Letters Beyond the Name
Friday, July 5, 2024
Sivan 29, 5784
Every so often, I veer from the traditional approach to Torah interpretation for a more tangential and abstract reading of the weekly parshah. This week is one such occasion.
Briefly summarizing Parashat Korach, we read of a mutiny against Moses’s leadership and Aaron’s priestly status, led by the portion’s namesake, Korach. The parshah details the unrest, ensuing disputes, and ultimate annihilation of those who rebelled. It concludes with a public reaffirmation of Aaron’s spiritual leadership through the symbolic transformation of his staff into a sprouting, blossoming, and almond-bearing branch.
While studying this week’s portion, I encountered a fascinating teaching by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the Hebrew letters of Korach’s name: “ק-ר-ח”. The Rebbe observed that these three letters are all modifications of the letter “ה”. “ק” is a “ה” with one side extended. “ר” is a “ה” missing part of its form, and “ח” is a “ה” without an open space.
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Though the Rebbe connected these variations to three ways of serving Gd, I was drawn to see them as representing three types of deception. The “extension” represents those who intentionally obfuscate the truth with misleading information. The “missing part” symbolizes those who consciously hide facts to mislead through omission. The “closed” letter represents those who are closed to the truth, believing only what they wish to believe.
In our fast-paced world, where trust and transparency seem to diminish as our desire for immediacy increases, we must question whether faster is truly better, and what consequences await when everything becomes instantaneous.
It’s unsurprising that Korach and his followers rebelled, given that they had just learned their generation would not enter the Promised Land. The text reminds us that they were on the brink of entering the “land of milk and honey” (Numbers 16:13-14) yet faced forty years of desert wandering concluding in their death beyond Israel’s borders. Korach and the others simply refused this demise.
In light of this timeless lesson, we must take action against the “Korachs” in our own lives – those who spread dangerous lies and foster rebellion. We can start by cultivating discernment, questioning information, especially the convenient or simplistic. When we encounter naysayers or those who spread misinformation, we should challenge their claims with facts and reason. Simultaneously, we must actively seek out and support those who demonstrate integrity, wisdom, and patience. By surrounding ourselves with such individuals and bringing them closer to our communities, we create a community of truth and mutual growth. Remember, like Aaron’s staff, positive change often requires time to blossom. Our role is to nurture that growth with steadfast commitment to truth and community. Because we are…
Shabbat Shalom.
