After reading the portion relating to Korach, one has to ask why was he punished so severely? After all, he seemingly thought he was in line to receive a high position, but was apparently passed over to the other members of the Kahat family (grandfather of both Moshe and Korach), specifically, Elizafan, the youngest son’s children. Korach felt slighted, since his father was older, and wondered why? “I’m an upstanding citizen and a Torah scholar and by the alignment of Kahat’s sons, I’m the next to be appointed. I feel this job is a perfect fit”. He didn’t deny G-d. In fact, he merely wanted to help by providing his services to the Jewish people and to G-d. Although there is no denying he wanted to overthrow the hierarchy of Moshe’s government, he sincerely thought he was the right man for the job. As such, the severity of the punishment seems at face value a little harsh.
As Korach and his assembly were waiting for a showdown with the camp of Moshe, the ground opened up and swallowed them up alive.
How did this occur? What transpired? How did Korach succeed in creating an assembly of followers to counter Moshe’s leadership?
One may only need to look to modern times here in America to see how this can happen. Through technology, the American society magnified and popularized the median of comedy starting in the late 50’s. The convenience of television brought many comedians such as, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Don Rickles, Richard Pryer, and Johnny Carson just to name a few. I can go on and on with a smirk on my face and a chuckle inside. These comedians would make fun of everything that society has to offer.
By the mid 60’s and beyond as television became more affordable, the comedians spread their material to the political front. Politicians became prime targets of late night talk show comedians like Carson, Letterman and Leno. It became a ritual that a new president-elect would get repeatedly roasted and grilled by the onslaught of comedians.
Apparently, it is not a coincidence that the disrespect these political figures endure by American citizens as manifest by such comedians as well as by the masses at office water coolers throughout the country, begins around the same time. Kennedy was perhaps the last respected president (one may argue Reagan). The tragedy of when Kennedy was assassinated put the nation in such a solemn mood. Even my father, an immigrant at the time for only a year, cried. It is hard to believe anyone can elicit that kind of reaction from the nation today. The reason for the respect Kennedy received was that political bashing and comic needling were not yet fully established. Gerald Ford was a gifted athlete but one of the reasons he lost his bid for reelection (besides Watergate which nearly ruined his Republican party) was a little misstep where he physically tripped. This rather common human occurrence triggered an impersonation by a Saturday Night Live comedian Chevy Chase portraying Ford as tripping constantly. Chase and the writers of the show, for many months were relentless and created the impression that President Ford was a klutzy, bumbling fool.
G-d is very sensitive to the kavod or honor of people, especially His chosen people. We see this from our forefather Avraham when his son Yitzchok was born. Everybody thought and assumed Yizchok could not possibly be his child since he could not have kids with his wife Sarah for many years. G-d made sure, to avoid the smirking and the back door jokes by having Yitzchok look exactly like his father. But why bother and care what a few yentas and fools say? We see how impressionable people can be.
In order to discredit Moshe, Korach ridiculed him and his leadership. He used comedy as a weapon. Comedy can be used as a positive or negative force. It can be therapeutic or lethal depending how it is used. One may say he was the first stand up comedian, but unfortunately a lethal one. Korach and his assembly, by denying Moshe’s authority as G-d’s messenger, denied the legitimacy of the Torah. By denying the messenger they are denying the one who sent him, and if so, there remains no foundation to Torah or prophecy. If Korach’s argument had any basis, then the entire Torah would be null and void for it was based on Moshe’s having been sent by G-d.
One can ruin the legitimacy of a person and his teaching by one sarcastic remark or even one derogatory facial expression such as the rolling of the eyes. This could be accomplished by the negative side of comedy. G-d says “I created man in my name and in my honor” meaning there must be respect given to man because if one disrespects man one also disrespects G-d. May we all learn from the Korach experience and be cautious not to jest mockingly and be careful to respect one another in the fullest sense.
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