<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><p><span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">There are eleven Tehillim which have in its first verse a recognition of the "livnei Korach." Korach appeared to be seeking "kedusha" for all Jews. However, his comment "For all the congregation are holy" was an egregious error and missed the major point that our holiness is not an automatic condition, but rather, a potential for which to labor, not an assured state. In addition, Korach was challenging authority -- not for the sake of improvement and good -- but rather for self serving motivations. In other words, the machinations of Korach were not legitimate. The sages of the gemara welcomed sincere dissension and controversy. Machlokess was and <b>IS</b> -- HEALTHY -- and is referred to as "controversies that are in the name of heaven," (l'sheim shamayim) as opposed to controversies like Korah. So how does one tell the difference?</span></font></span></p><p><span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">We see from Datan and Aviram's accusation, that instead of their working for improvement and for a better future, they are romanticizing about the past. They are rejecting the present reality and are ultimately doomed to fail since they are blinded by jealousy and by their own personal agendas. The portion of Korach is a grim reminder of how selfishness and anger warps our thinking and distorts how we perceive the world</span></font></span></p><p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">There is no doubt that when we see injustice, it is necessary and essential to speak out and be a positive force in changing the status quo. But we will hardly succeed if we do the right things for the wrong reasons.</span></font></p><p style="text-align: justify; "><span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">The sages realized that while the Korah rebellion ended so tragically, it had the seeds of redemption. In Psalm 92 we read: </span></font><span style="color: black; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">Tzaddik katamar yifrach</span></font></i></span><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">, "</span></font><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree</span></font></i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">." The last letters of these three Hebrew words (in order) spell Korach! So the lesson here is that even though Korach was a great sinner, his concept (out of selfish context) was good and with repentance, God is forgiving. Given the proper motivation, we can turn even the most difficult situations around and eventually succeed! </span></font></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; ">ri</p></body></html>