What can we Learn from Korach’s Example About Uprooting Jealousy?

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What Can we Learn from Korach’s Example About Uprooting Jealousy? 

Jealousy Removes a Person from the Inner World

I was told that as a toddler, I was very jealous of my younger sister, and would often hit her. I observed the same phenomenon in my two oldest granddaughters when they were little. Now as teenagers, they have become each other’s best friends. Unfortunately, not everyone grows out of the negative emotion of jealousy, which often rips families apart. One reason childhood sibling rivalry may turn into jealousy in adulthood is that families sometimes promote unhealthy competition between children, which can cause sibling jealousy to linger into adulthood. For example, a parent may lavish attention on a child who is more academic, athletic, musical, etc. than another. The underlying motive of jealousy is often feelings of inadequacy. If you are struggling with jealousy keep in mind that it likely stems from your own insecurities and has nothing to do with the other person. Don’t let these feelings ruin what could otherwise be a great relationship! And don’t let them build up either – so you won’t start resenting a family member and causing the relationship to deteriorate. “Jealousy, lust, and [desire for] honor remove a person from the world” (Pirkei Avot 4:22). These traits may cause whoever is immersed in them to exit the real world and live inside a bubble detached from reality. According to Da’at Zekenim becoming removed from the world indicates becoming removed from the inner spiritual world to the external physical world. A person could become so enmeshed in the external physical world, to the extent that he is so divested of the spiritual, that he completely “removes himself’ from the inner world. The entire existence of the jealous person is that he sees something precious his friend has which he lacks. He imagines that if only he could attain that thing, his suffering would be over, and he would live happily ever after. But his jealousy makes him forget the fundamental principle that if this were good for you, G-d would have given it to you too. And if He did not give you this, then it is certainly not beneficial for you.

Reincarnation of Kayin – the First One in the World to be Jealous

Parashat Korach teaches us the underpinning of jealousy and its consequences. Korach’s ego could not bear to see Moshe as the king, Aharon as the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), while he was just another Levite. Arizal explains that Korach and Moshe were reincarnations of Kayin and Hevel (Abel) (Sha’ar HaGilgulim, Ch. 29 and 32). After Kayin had murdered Hevel it states, “…You are cursed even more than the ground, which opened its mouth to take your brother’s blood from your hand” (Bereishit 4:11). In the reincarnation of Korach, Kayin’s soul returned to rise against Hevel’s soul (reincarnated in Moshe). To complete the spiritual rectification, measure for measure, it was now the soul of Hevel that buried the soul of Kayin in the earth, as it states, “The earth beneath them opened its mouth and swallowed them…” (Bamidbar 16:32). Nevertheless, Moshe and Aharon prayed to prevent this tragedy as it states:

ספר במדבר פרק טז פסוק כב וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כָּל הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף:

“They fell on their faces and said, ‘O G-d, the G-d of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation?” (Bamidbar 16:22).

The reason they addressed Hashem as “the G-d of the הָרוּחֹת/ruchot – ‘spirits’ rather than ‘the G-d of the נְשָׁמוֹת/neshamot – ‘souls’ is because jealousy is manifested specifically through the רוּחַ/ruach – ‘spirit.’ Korach’s ruach was the jealous spirit of Kayin. He was envious of Moshe who was a reincarnation of Hevel (HaRamaz on Zohar Bamidbar, p. 461). Korach’s sin is rooted in Kayin’s jealousy of Hevel whose offering found favor in G-d’s eyes. Hevel was the prototype of the Kohen Gadol, who offers the temple sacrifice. Kayin wanted to be chosen for this role – so he killed Hevel. In the same way, Korach was envious of Aharon’s eternal role as the Kohen Gadol of G-d’s Temple, so he tried to destroy him (Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum, Universal Torah Lessons for Humanity from the Weekly Parsha).

Icy Versus Watery Character Traits
The Zohar describes the birth of Kayin as due to the spiritual pollution that the serpent had injected into Chava (Zohar Chadash p. 63b). Korach’s spirit retained the spiritual pollution of the primordial serpent that originally was absorbed by Kayin. Just as the serpent was motivated by its jealousy of Adam, so was Korach jealous of the Elitzafan being appointed to be the leader of the Kehatites (Rashi, Bamidbar 16:10). Moshe and Korach represent two types of people, indicated by their names. The name ‘Moshe,’ means min hamayim meshitihu, “For I drew him out of the water” (Shemot 2:10), whereas the name ‘Korach,’ has the exact same Hebrew spelling as kerach – ice. Moshe represents water; Korach represents ice. Ice is cold, hard, and unyielding, expanding ever larger as it freezes, symbolic of an inflating ego. Water is fluid, life-giving, and always flows to the lowest possible point, symbolic of humility. Our lesson is to emulate the watery traits of Moshe, rather than the frozen qualities of Korach. (Efraim Palvano https://www.mayimachronim.com/moses-and-korach-abel-and-Kayin-water-and-ice/).

The Rectified Jealousy of the Sons of Korach
Despite the devastating effect of jealousy, it is possible to use this trait to enact repair on the deepest level. Looking at the inner dimension of jealousy it becomes clear that through it we receive the ability to rectify the world, which includes rectifying the destructive character trait of jealousy. We learn this from the repentance of Korach’s sons, who were saved from punishment. In a moment of truth, they succeeded in uprooting the natural jealousy buried in their souls. Thereby they taught all future generations that it’s possible to rectify sin. This is “a descent for the sake of ascent!” in the deepest sense! (Rav Yugav Kohen, The Primordial Serpent, Kayin, and Korach). Thus, through tears of heartfelt teshuva, the sons of Korach were able to melt their hereditary ice of arrogance and transform it into streams of fluid waters, always flowing towards the lowest humblest point!

EmunaHealing Exercise to Overcome Jealousy and Feel Happy with Your Portion
It is recommended to do this EmunaHealing exercise near a natural body of water, whether on the beach, at a lake, river, or a spring.
1. Rest in your place of comfort and focus on your even breath. Breathe slowly through your nostrils as you allow your mind to focus on the special gifts of your life.
2. What do you have to be grateful for? Perhaps you can think about some special G-d-given talents that you possess. Then let your mind wander to counting your blessings. If you have children how wonderful! if you have a supportive husband, what a blessing! We also mustn’t take physical health for granted. If you can get out of bed in the mornings, walk around and use your hands to do simple chores you are privileged! If you can see the beautiful flowers, hear the birds sing, taste delicacies, and smell the roses, how fortunate you are!
3. Shift your consciousness to your accomplishments in life! In which skills do you excel? Perhaps you are a great communicator, listener, homemaker, baker, cleaner, hostess, daughter, healer, singer, musician, writer, teacher, or artist. Perhaps you have other talents that you employ to help people and better your environment. How blessed you are to have honed these skills to shine upon the world. Breathe into your accomplishments and let the feeling of gratitude fill your heart, spilling over into every limb of your body.
4. Yet, despite your gifts and accomplishments perhaps there may still be a tinge of jealousy somewhere in your conscious or unconscious mind. It may be loud and strong or weak and hidden in the recesses of your heart. We need to bring our feelings of jealousy up to the surface in order to uproot them. 
5. Now, acknowledge your jealousy: Is there anyone in your life that seems to be more successful, and accomplished than you?  Do you sometimes wish that you had what she has?  Perhaps you are harboring other jealous feelings? Just recognizing that you’re having these feelings opens the door to letting them go.
6. Perhaps your jealous feelings can help you learn more about yourself, about your insecurities and needs. Ask yourself the following question: “What am I most afraid of in this situation?” Breathe into this question and open yourself to receive an answer. Let the answer penetrate every fiber of your being and continue asking: Are those learned beliefs/feelings really relevant to my current circumstances? Am I willing to identify the old fears and let them pass?” Now, open yourself to finding new ways to let go of learned beliefs/ feelings and alleviate your fears. Breathe into these feelings and fears and envision them melting away.
7. Often the underlying cause of jealousy is the feeling that there isn’t enough of whatever it is you desire. If others have what you want, you may fear that there isn’t enough for you to also receive your proper share. Ask yourself: “How did I learn to believe there is not enough (love, approval, etc.) to go around? And listen for the answer.
8. Breathe into the Talmudic statement: “No person may touch that which is prepared for another by G-d; everyone receives what is designated for him. One reign does not overlap with another and deduct from the time allotted it even a hairbreadth” (Yoma 38b).
9. Acknowledge that if it were good for you to have any of the things you envy in others, G-d would have also given you this. So, if He did not give it to you, then it is certainly not beneficial for you. Acknowledge that you truly have everything you need right now!!!!!!  Breathe into this feeling of gratitude and proclaim: “I have everything I need right now!” Then open your eyes to a brighter world belonging to you!