Korach: the Test
In Yiddish, enormous wealth is expressed in the phrase: Reich vi Korach, . Korach was imagined by Chazal to be fabulously wealthy. Presumably, that wealth was an important component of his challenge to the leadership of Moshe and Aaron.
Wealth can generate confidence. The ability to pay people to do one's bidding can have an impact on self image. It can be habit forming. I can imagine that the boss, by virtue of his wealth, says that either things go his way or, " Your Fired!" Such a sense of entitlement is hard to muster in the poor,who are dependent on the resources controlled by the powerful.
Moshe had a dose of power when he was raised as a prince in Egypt. The practice he had organizing an ordering subjects was probably useful in his career as prophet and leader. Of course, later he wielded much greater, supernatural, power with humility.
Korach's self assurance may have also had a component of self congratulation. It was his skill in the administration of Pharoah's ( Joseph's) treasury that put him in a position to acquire his enormous fortune. He could believe that his own efforts had brought him to his position. Perhaps his father had started him off with a measly million, Korach had turned it into a real fortune and a reputation that would last forever. Was it not reasonable to try to procure a position of leadership, a tax supported priesthood? And it could all be done in form of a popular, democratic uprising. The plebeians could vent their frustration with the current hierarchy.
The upstarts are put to the test. Can anyone be a high priest? Can anyone be an NBA star, an Albert Einstein? Assuming a role requires competence, and extreme competence requires talent. The acquisition of wealth can indicate a skill set, but those skills are not the same as what is needed for beneficent leadership.
The outcome of Korach's test was predictable. Aaron's sons had died through errors in the incense service. The danger of that activity had been demonstrated. Trying that activity was clearly a mortal danger; it was an act of arrogance.
The Korach rebellion cost was about 15,000 (14,700 + 250) lives. What will the current crop of posers cost?
Wealth can generate confidence. The ability to pay people to do one's bidding can have an impact on self image. It can be habit forming. I can imagine that the boss, by virtue of his wealth, says that either things go his way or, " Your Fired!" Such a sense of entitlement is hard to muster in the poor,who are dependent on the resources controlled by the powerful.
Moshe had a dose of power when he was raised as a prince in Egypt. The practice he had organizing an ordering subjects was probably useful in his career as prophet and leader. Of course, later he wielded much greater, supernatural, power with humility.
Korach's self assurance may have also had a component of self congratulation. It was his skill in the administration of Pharoah's ( Joseph's) treasury that put him in a position to acquire his enormous fortune. He could believe that his own efforts had brought him to his position. Perhaps his father had started him off with a measly million, Korach had turned it into a real fortune and a reputation that would last forever. Was it not reasonable to try to procure a position of leadership, a tax supported priesthood? And it could all be done in form of a popular, democratic uprising. The plebeians could vent their frustration with the current hierarchy.
The upstarts are put to the test. Can anyone be a high priest? Can anyone be an NBA star, an Albert Einstein? Assuming a role requires competence, and extreme competence requires talent. The acquisition of wealth can indicate a skill set, but those skills are not the same as what is needed for beneficent leadership.
The outcome of Korach's test was predictable. Aaron's sons had died through errors in the incense service. The danger of that activity had been demonstrated. Trying that activity was clearly a mortal danger; it was an act of arrogance.
The Korach rebellion cost was about 15,000 (14,700 + 250) lives. What will the current crop of posers cost?
posted by Sheldon Goldberg at 8:44 AM
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