Parashat Korach 5786
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites
The stories of the Torah are not merely historical records. Their deeper purpose is to teach us how to confront life’s challenges and how to act in times of crisis or conflict.
In this week’s parasha, we encounter for the first time a rebellion directed not against circumstances, but against the leaders themselves. This is not a case of the people’s complaints; it is a challenge to the very authority of Moses and Aaron. At the head of the revolt stands one of the most distinguished members of the nation – Korach son of Izhar, a cousin of Moses and Aaron. He succeeds in rallying a large group of prominent figures around him, and together they gather against Moses and Aaron in what resembles a protest demonstration. Their claim is clear and familiar to every generation:
“For the entire community – all of them – are holy, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you raise yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”
(Numbers 16:3)
According to Korach and his followers, the leadership is detached and arrogant. Positions are reserved for insiders, the laws are incomprehensible to the public, and who can be sure that the leaders are serving the people rather than preserving their own power? These are accusations that can be heard in almost every society and every era.
Yet here these claims are directed against Moses himself – the man whom the Torah describes as “more humble than any other person on the face of the earth”; the man who stood fearlessly before Pharaoh, led the ten plagues and the Exodus from Egypt, split the Red Sea, and ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. But when a dispute is fueled by a desire for honor, status, or power, facts become less important. Baseless allegations can appear convincing in the eyes of the masses, and a protest movement can rapidly gain momentum in the name of a distorted sense of justice.
The story ends tragically. God decisively demonstrates where the truth lies: the earth opens up and swallows Korach and his followers, while heavenly fire consumes the remaining participants in the rebellion. Yet the atmosphere in the camp remains tense. Doubts have not entirely disappeared, and many still seek clear proof that the tribe of Levi and Aaron were truly chosen by God and had not seized authority for themselves.
To resolve the matter, God commands a unique test. A representative from each tribe brings a wooden staff bearing the tribe’s name, and all the staffs are placed before God. The following day, the result is revealed:
“The next day Moses entered the Tent of Testimony, and behold, Aaron’s staff, for the house of Levi, had blossomed: it brought forth blossoms, sprouted buds, and bore almonds.”
(Numbers 17:23)
The Torah describes a remarkable miracle. Out of the twelve staffs, Aaron’s alone blossoms, produces buds and flowers, and yields almonds. Through this sign, the people understand that Aaron’s selection is the will of God. The staff is then preserved for future generations, together with its blossoms and fruit, as a testimony and a sign for anyone who might challenge the truth.
This episode raises an intriguing question. Why was the almond specifically chosen as the symbol of legitimate leadership? Moreover, the Torah emphasizes that the staff was preserved together with every stage of its growth – the blossom, the bud, and the fruit – even though in nature these stages do not coexist. This indicates that the detail is far from incidental. It carries a message for all generations, embedded in the preservation of the staff in its entirety.
For centuries people have debated what matters more for success: talent or perseverance. The world tends to admire extraordinary talent, yet reality often shows that gifted individuals, accustomed to achieving results quickly, can struggle when faced with long-term challenges and obstacles. By contrast, those marked by diligence and consistency refuse to give up when the path becomes difficult, and often achieve far greater accomplishments over time.
In Hebrew, the word shakdan (“a diligent person”) comes from the same root as shaked (“almond”). We commonly associate diligence with someone who studies tirelessly. Yet the almond tree symbolizes more than persistence. It also represents eagerness, alertness, and being first to act – a quality celebrated in the beloved Hebrew song HaShkediyah Porachat (“The Almond Tree Is Blooming”), which praises the almond tree for blooming before all the others.
The connection between diligence and swiftness appears in the words of the prophet Jeremiah:
“The word of the Lord came to me… ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ And I said, ‘I see an almond branch (makel shaked).’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watchful (shoked) over My word to perform it.'”
(Jeremiah 1:11-12)
Commenting on this verse, Rabbi David Kimchi writes:
“The almond tree flowers earlier than all other trees; therefore it is called shaked, for shekidah denotes swiftness and diligent effort.”
A person who acts consistently, devotes himself to his mission, and treats every action as meaningful is also the one who ultimately reaches his destination more quickly. Diligence and swiftness are not opposing traits; they complement one another.
At the heart of the dispute between Korach and Moses stood a fundamental question: What makes a leader? Many mistakenly assume that leadership is an innate gift and that a leader must possess exceptional talent, charisma, and power. Yet history teaches otherwise. Many leaders of that sort have come and gone without leaving a lasting mark. Those who are remembered as truly great leaders are the ones who pursued their ideals with determination and perseverance. The ability to remain steadfast, to keep striving toward a worthy goal and the values of truth, is what makes a person fit to lead.
Every stage in the almond’s growth is an inseparable part of its essence. It symbolizes the union of perseverance and determination with readiness and swift action. That is why the almond was chosen as the decisive symbol in the question of who should lead Israel. And that is why Aaron’s staff was preserved for generations with all its parts intact – blossom, bud, and fruit – teaching us that a person becomes whole only when all aspects of his character work together toward a single purpose.
When we seek to bring about change, advance an idea, or influence the world around us, we may be intimidated by the obstacles along the way and fear that we lack the necessary talents. The story of Aaron’s staff teaches a different lesson: whoever believes in a path, dedicates himself to it, and pursues it with diligence, loyalty, responsibility, and determination to keep moving forward until the goal is achieved, will ultimately reach that destination.
