Parashat Korach

June 11, 2021
1 Tamuz 5781
Parashat Korach
Numbers 16:1 - 18:32

Dear Friends,

I think that anyone who is thrust into or takes on a leadership position should read and study this week’s Torah portion. It should be part of the core curriculum of any leadership development program, as it clearly juxtaposes two distinct leadership styles.

In this week's Torah portion, Korach and his followers accuse Moses and Aaron of taking power and prestige for themselves at the expense of the community. Moses defends himself against the rebels by saying that Adonai will make God’s presence known by how God treats these rebels. Then God opens the ground and swallows Korach and his followers.

This action is a full-blown uprising against the leadership of Moses by Korach, who, like Moses, comes from the tribe of Levi. Korach challenges Moses publicly and manages to win support with the use of his words. My perception of Korach is that, although he believes what he says, it comes in service to himself and not in service to the needs of others. He always struck me as a smooth-talking, rabble rousing narcissist.

Korach functions as an example of the type of leadership that resonates with people at first glance; however, if one takes the time to look more closely, one becomes aware that it is purely based upon self-aggrandizement.

Moses is another type of leader. We are reminded over and over again that he is humble yet willing to stand up to God on behalf of the people he has been chosen to lead. He is not an especially good public speaker and he has learned the importance of working with others over the course of his leadership.  Moses’ leadership comes from his dependence on the community and on God. All the while, he questions his own abilities. He learns that although he cannot share all of the responsibility that rests on him, there is a way to share at least some of it.

To quote Dr. Shuly Rubin Schwartz, “the goal of leadership should be effectiveness – not power for its own sake.” We can also quote Spiderman: “With great power, comes great responsibility.”

Although the way in which Korach and his followers are swallowed up without leaving behind a trace feels very much like a scene from a superhero movie, we all know that the stakes are real.

Like Moses, we are all flawed human beings, struggling to find a balance between our fears and what needs to be done. There is no better exemplar of this balancing act than Moses. And, like Moses, we should not be afraid to speak our truth, especially -- most importantly -- when it does not come from a place of ego, but when it comes from a place of healing and hope.

habbat Shalom,

Rabbi Linda SHriner-Cahn