Quick Thoughts on the Parsha

After Korach’s rebellion, God is ready to wipe out all of B’nai Yisrael. But Moshe and Aharon challenge God, קל אֱלֹקי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כָּל הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation?” (Bamidbar 16:22). The Midrash explains Moshe and Aharon’s argument here by contrasting God and a human king. When part of a country rebels against a human king, the king does not know who the sinners are and so he punishes everyone. But God knows the inner thoughts of everyone, and so He knows who to punish and who to spare and reward. And so, God relents and follows Moshe and Aharon’s plea, only punishing those at fault. What would it be like if we tried to emulate God’s ability? As the Midrash makes clear, it is natural for humans to group everyone together. To be Divine is to see each individual in his or her set of circumstances, actions, and decisions. And yet, as human as we are, we are called to walk in God’s ways-- to be more like the Holy King than the human king. Today, ask yourself what it would look like for you to look at each individual as God does. How, if at all, would you treat others differently? With God as your King, how do you want Him to look at you?

--Rabbanit Alissa