Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

183
בלה תובשחמ
what they took. Perhaps we can suggest that the first pasuk is not recording an
event that took place but rather defining the character of the people who created
this week’s turmoil. Vayikach: their identity was taking. They by nature felt a sense
of entitlement. They felt they deserved something they were not awarded. Like
Chava, they wanted something not designated for them.
This is telling in their punishment as well. Moshe asked Hashem to eliminate
Korach in a supernatural manner. Why was Moshe so vindictive? Perhaps Moshe
did not make the request out of vengeance but rather, as he often did, was trying
to send a message. Had Korach died a natural or common death, everyone would
have walked away saying that Korach sinned and was punished. The message
would have been do not rebel.
Now that something from the world order changed, the message was clear that
not only did Korach do something that was wrong, he acted in an unnatural way.
When Hashem created the world He did not intend on people defining themselves
as takers. To contribute is in line with the intended nature of the world. To take
is unnatural.
And Korach was specifically punished by the earth. The ground is the ultimate
giver. It produces virtually everything we have. Even what we put into the ground
is turned around to produce better products for us. The ground, the ultimate
giver, the natural giver, was called to punish the one who violated the message of
giving.
Every day, we encounter circumstances that allow us to give and enable us to take.
How do we want to define ourselves? What are we going to do to “live”? Are we
going to spend our time developing our sense of self or kill our time dreaming of
what is not meant for us? It is up to us to realize the gifts Hashem gave us, and to
use the talents that we already naturally have inside of us. We need to realize the
greatness of what we do have and not kill ourselves trying to acquire an identity
that does not belong to us.
Yehi ratzon mi-lifnei avinu she-bashamayim that we should be confident enough
to know we have everything we need and realize that there is no need to desire
something we do not have. Hashem should help us live in line with the nature He
created, and may we live a real life full of contribution.