Parashat Korach: What is the Small Adjustment of Attitude that Could Have Prevented Korach’s Rebellion?

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Parashat Korach
What is the Small Adjustment of Attitude that Could Have Prevented Korach’s Rebellion? 

Why Would we want to Believe that “I’m Getting More Than I Deserve?”                                    Looking for an inspiring YouTube while making challot, Hashem guided me to a short recording by Rabbi Manis Friedman, which connected to gratitude. The basic message was, “Don’t pursue happiness, allow it to happen while being enthusiastic about the things you are doing, or do the things you are enthusiastic about.” The recipe for happiness that the Rabbi shared is, cultivating an attitude of “I’m getting more than I deserve.” Although my husband disputed this concept, saying that working hard to deserve things in life makes people feel happy, I perceive truth on both sides. My husband is relating to the issue from the perspective of our actions, and I certainly agree that it’s commendable to work hard and then allow ourselves a well-deserved vacation. Yet from the perspective of receiving blessings and goodness in life, if we believe that we are getting less than we deserve, we will be constantly unhappy, thinking that life is unfair and that we have drawn the shortest straw. This mindset often leads people to become envious and compare themselves with others, thinking: “How come my neighbor is more successful, has a better job, and is more respected, although I’m working just as hard, and am at least as talented?” Feeling that we deserve all our gifts of life stems from an attitude of – as we say in Hebrew – מַגִּיעַ לִי/magia li – literally, “I have it coming to me!” Why should I be happy or grateful when things are going well? Don’t I deserve it? Why should I be thankful if I have earned the goodness I gained? These attitudes can lead to arrogance. Whenever I’m upset with my husband who doesn’t always understand me, or I experience minor marriage problems such as being criticized and accused of being critical, I must remind myself that I’m still getting more than I deserve. Baruch Hashem my husband isn’t abusive, he is faithful and never looks at other women, and what’s more, he usually dotes on me! Only when we realize that no one can ever deserve any of the gifts of life with which Hashem blesses us, can we truly feel grateful and happy. When we lower our expectations of what we deserve, we will welcome each surprising blessing with overflowing gratitude. 

Every Blessing is Bestowed According to Precise Divine Supervision                                                  In certain situations, it’s easy to forget that Hashem is in charge of EVERYTHING and that what we receive for good or bad is according to precise Divine Supervision. Sometimes we may feel slighted, when others are remiss in giving us the gifts, or the applause we think we deserve. This reminds me of a story I heard from a recording by Sara Cohen on Torah Anytime. A certain respected Rabbi was invited to a wedding. Since he was a very good friend of both the family of the Chatan (groom) and the Kallah (bride), he surely expected to receive the honor of reciting one of the sheva brachot (blessings) under the Chuppah (wedding canopy).  He was waiting patiently, but the brachot were given to others one by one. Finally, they got up to the final sheva bracha, but someone else was called up to recite it. When he was absent, they called a second person who had just stepped out due to an urgent phone call, and the third person they called up was somehow delayed. Now, our Rabbi friend of the family could easily fall into the pitfall of thinking “What’s going on here? Do the families not consider me a close friend? Have they forgotten about all I have done for them throughout all the years I have known them? Why don’t they even consider me worthy to be the substitute for the substitute reciting a blessing for the couple?” Finally, when three other rabbis were unavailable, the said Rabbi friend heard his name called, and he went up to the Chuppah to give his blessing to the new couple. As he returned to his place, the person standing next to him whispered into his ear:                                               

תלמוד בבלי מסכת יומא דף לח/א-ב מִכָּאן אָמַר בֶּן עַזַּאי: בְּשִׁמְךָ יִקְרָאוּךְ, וּבִמְקוֹמְךָ יוֹשִׁיבוּךְ, וּמִשֶּׁלְּךָ יִתְּנוּ לְךָ. אֵין אָדָם נוֹגֵעַ      בַּמּוּכָן לַחֲבֵירוֹ, וְאֵין מַלְכוּת נוֹגַעַת בַּחֲבֶרְתָּהּ אֲפִילּוּ כִּמְלֹא נִימָא... “                                                                                  Ben Azzai said: “by your name, they shall call  you,  and in your place, they shall seat you, and from your own they shall give you. Not one reign overlaps with another and deducts even a hairbreadth from  the time allotted” (Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 38a-b).b

In other words, we should not be concerned that others might usurp our livelihood or success, since at the appropriate moment, everyone has a portion designated for him by G-d, and everyone is privileged to receive what is coming to him. The principle is: No person may touch what is prepared for another by G-d. Everyone receives what is designated for him. This implies that the last sheva bracha had the name of the Rabbi-family-friend written on it. If the blessing wasn’t designated for him, one of the others called up would have gotten it. Hashem made it so that each of the others was unavailable for various reasons, just so that this particular Rabbi would be the one reciting the last bracha under the chuppah, as he was meant to do. 

My Student’s First Spelt Challah Gift is Surely More Than I Deserve                                              This Talmudic teaching has helped bring me back on track when – at times – I may have felt jealous of others who seemingly were chosen over me as teachers, mentors, or healers, or when the younger brothers of my son’s friends got married one by one while he remained single. (B”H he is now married to a wonderful young woman who was worth the wait!). The other day, when we had the thank you luncheon for the host families in Bat Ayin who graciously open their homes and hearts to welcome our students for Shabbat meals, was a testing moment. The students had made beautifully decorated goody bags for each host family with handwritten thank-you notes. What a beautiful gesture! Had it not been for recalling the above mentioned Talmudic teaching from Yoma, I may have felt left out, thinking, “Why didn’t I get a decorated bag with a handwritten thank-you-note? After all, my husband and I open our home to the students, no less than the other host families.” But I believe I passed the test, focusing on how nice it was that my students expressed genuine gratitude to the families in Bat Ayin who keep hosting them. I’m considered more like the mom that you are always welcome to eat by. Having a welcoming home for students is part of the Rebbetzin role. It’s expected and not anything exceptional that warrants special recognition. I remained happy because even without a special decorated bag, I recognized that I was getting more than I deserved thank G-d. as I write these lines, I’m interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by an SMS “Are you home? I’m outside the door, I wanna give you something!” It’s one of my dear students holding an immense whole-spelt sourdough aromatic challah giving off the delicious scent of Shabbat. “It’s my first challah and I wanted to give it to you! Enjoy! With all my love🤍Thank you for everything!” she says with a hug. Here I got my confirmation! Hashem knows what He is doing. He ensures that everyone gets what’s due to them, as it states, “…and from your own they shall give you…” (Yoma 38). Nevertheless, I am overwhelmed with a grateful feeling that I surely am getting more than I deserve! 

Korach’s Rebellion was due to Feeling that He was Getting Less Than He Deserved  

ספר במדבר פרק טז פסוק א וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וְאוֹן בֶּן פֶּלֶת בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן:

“Korach the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kahat, the son of Levi took [himself to one side] along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eliav, and On the son of Pelet, descendants of Reuven” (Bamidbar 16:1).

Rashi asked, Now, what made Korach decide to quarrel with Moshe? He envied the chieftainship of Elizaphan the son of Uziel whom Moshe appointed as president over the sons of Kahat by the [Divine] word. Korach claimed, “My father and his brothers were four.” …Amram was the first, and his two sons received greatness, Moshe became the king, and Aharon Kohen Gadol. Who is entitled to receive the second position? Is it not I, who am the son of Yitzhar, the second brother to Amram? And yet, Moshe appointed the son of his youngest brother to become the president of the tribe of Levy! I oppose him and will invalidate his word (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 1, Midrash Rabbah 18:2). 

Korach is an example of someone who feels he is getting less than he deserves. He was a great Torah scholar, seemingly more suitable for the position as president of the tribe of Levi than his youngest cousin. Therefore, it didn’t make sense to him that he wasn’t chosen. Here is where emunah comes in! No matter whether it makes sense or not, we must recall the Talmudic teaching that everyone receives the precise portion metered out by Divine decree. By refusing to accept that each person gets exactly what Hashem ordains, Korach caused himself and his cohorts tremendous aggravation, in his unbridled honor-seeking, he brought everyone to meet their untimely death and to be taken out of the world as it states: 

משנה מסכת אבות פרק ד משנה כא רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַקַּפָּר אוֹמֵר, הַקִּנְאָה וְהַתַּאֲוָה וְהַכָּבוֹד מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הָאָדָם מִן הָעוֹלָם:

Rabbi Elazar Ha-kappar said: envy, lust, and honor-[seeking] takes a person out of the world (Pirkei Avot 4:21). 

Since envy, lust, and honor-seeking stem from a feeling of lack – of getting less than we deserve – this attitude interferes with the ability to function in this world, as well as making a person lose entrance into the world-to-come. The world cannot suffer the existence of such a person. Although G-d is not so quick to “remove sinners from the world,” those who are driven by these negative character traits of envy, lust, and honor-seeking cannot remain in the world because they are so self-destructive that they actively remove themselves from the world. Had Korach cultivated an attitude of, “I am getting more than I deserve,” he could have saved his own life and that of all his 252 followers. Perhaps when reading this, even my husband will agree that this dictum is the secret to living meaningful, happy, long lives in this world and the next!

Gratitude Focus for the Week of Parashat Korach –

Some Tips for Being Happy with Our Portion

It takes work to continually live by “I’m getting more than I deserve” and remain happy with our portion even when things don’t play out according to our preference. It takes great humility to perpetually accept that Hashem is the Boss and whatever He meters out to us, is exactly what we need even to a hair’s breadth. Let us practice some of these tools perhaps with a partner, even a phone partner. In addition to Partners in Torah let us become Partners in Gratitude! 

• Practice Gratitude – Take time to appreciate the things you have in your life, no matter how small they may seem. Maintain a gratitude journal where you can write down things you are grateful for each day. A journal is a good way to organize your thoughts, analyze your feelings, and make plans. You don’t have to be a literary genius or write volumes to benefit. It can be as simple as jotting down a few thoughts before you go to sleep. If putting certain things in writing makes you nervous, you can always shred it when you’ve finished. It’s the process that counts.

• Foster Positive Relationships – Surround yourself with supportive and positive people who bring out the best in you. Cultivate meaningful friendships and spend time with loved ones who make you feel good about yourself and your portion in life.

• Practice Self-Care – Pay attention to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and engage in regular physical activity. Take time for activities that you enjoy and that help you relax and recharge.

• Set Goals to Feel Enthusiastic About What you are Doing or to Do What you are Enthusiastic About – Set realistic goals for yourself and work towards achieving them. Having a sense of purpose and actively pursuing your passions and interests can contribute to a greater sense of fulfillment and happiness with your portion.

• Find Joy in Simple Things – Learn to appreciate and find joy in simple pleasures and everyday experiences. It could be spending time in nature, enjoying a hobby, or engaging in activities that bring you joy and contentment.

• Engage in Chesed to Help Others – Engage in acts of kindness and service towards others. Helping others not only makes a positive impact on their lives but also brings a sense of fulfillment and happiness with your portion.

• Focus on the Positive – Train your mind to focus on the positive aspects of life rather than dwelling on the negatives. Keep repeating to yourself “I’m getting more than I deserve!” Practice positive self-talk and challenge negative thoughts or self-doubt.

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!

How Can we Transcend Jealousy by Allowing Ourselves to Face it?

Parashat Korach

Archetypal Jealousy Must Come Out of the Closet in Order to Heal  

Jealousy is one of the underlying negative emotion of מַחֲלֹקֶת/machloket – controversy and strife. If only we could overcome jealousy, we would be opening the door for Mashiach to come already. It begins at a young age among siblings. The world of a firstborn child shatters when a sibling is born. All the parents’ love and admiration, which had been focused on the firstborn, now seems to be showered on the new baby, leaving the elder sibling feeling left out and forgotten. As we grow up, we often don’t grow out of that old jealousy, just as we don’t automatically evolve from the urges of our ego, without persistent inner work. The ego, which often manifests as our separate self, indulges in jealousy in order to avoid the greatest threat – to have to give unconditional love. The media also doesn’t help. The advertisements are actually geared to make us jealous, in order to hook us and get us to buy more. One of my spiritual healing clients – a professional performer – shared with me, her struggle dealing with her competitive lifestyle, which encourages jealousy and envy. She gets obsessed with jealousy when another performer attracts a greater audience and receives more cheers. It makes her feel isolated, forgotten, and a failure when someone else is getting all the love, attention, rewards, success, and glory. I worked with her to break her false worldview of perceiving others as rivals, enemies, or a threat to her success. This negative attitude only creates further conflict and division. It causes much pain both to the jealous person and to those around her. As uncomfortable as it can be to admit, feel, and deal with these emotions, they need to come out of the closet in order to be healed. What does the Torah have to say about competition and jealousy, and how can we heal this negative emotion, so we can clear our blocks to feel abundant joy?

 

Removing our Jealousy-Tainted Glasses

 ורבי יוחנן אמר לפי שאין מלכות נוגעת בחברתה אפילו כמלא נימא:תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף מח/ב

Rabbi Yochanan said one kingdom [sovereignty] does not overlap with its counterpart, even one hairbreadth (Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 48b). 

I understand the above Talmudic quote to imply that no one can take anything away from you! We all have our time and place in the world. It is only Hashem that determines the parameters of our ‘kingdom’ – meaning our wealth and health, sphere of influence and success, etc. We are easy prey for jealousy when feeling insecure and doubtful about our own path. By comparing ourselves to others – wanting what they seem to have, we bring the focus away from ourselves and from facing our own pain. In order to heal, we need to shift our focus away from others and back to ourselves, becoming honest about our own insecurities. As we allow ourselves to become aware of our shadow sides, we begin the process of slowly letting them go. Then, we can integrate the Talmudic teaching, that no-one else’s achievement can infringe upon what each of us is meant to accomplish or receive, even as much as a hairsbreadth. Before we came into this world, we already chose our kingdom – our circumstances of operation – together with our package of obstacles. If everyone else’s grass often seems greener, this is only due to our looking through ‘jealousy-tainted glasses.’ Our life challenge is about exchanging these blemished glasses with clearer lenses. Through the old glasses, our peace was dependent upon someone or something else! They made us see a million rivals, a million blocks to joy. The path of jealousy is giving away our own G-d given malchut (sovereignty). It allows others to exert power over us while resenting them for taking what we ourselves gave away with our own negative attention. By returning our attention to ourselves, facing our jealous emotions, they will teach us new things about ourselves and ultimately help us to transcend them. 

Jealousy and Controversy Have No Real Existence

Parashat Korach deals with Korach’s rebellion against Moshe’s leadership and Aharon’s selection as the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). The commentaries are puzzled about the opening of the parasha: 

:ספר במדבר פרק טז פסוק א וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וְאוֹן בֶּן פֶּלֶת בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן

“Korach the son of Yizhar, the son of Kehat, the son of Levi took along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eliav, and On the son of Pelet, descendants of Reuven” (Bamidbar 16:1).

What exactly did Korach take? The Torah doesn’t tell us. If he took aside the additional people mentioned in the verse, it shouldn’t have introduced the list of whom he took with the word וְ/ve – “and” in /וְדָתָןveDatan – “and Datan.” Rather, instead of “and” it should have said אֶת/et – a word that makes the next word the object of the sentence. The word “and” implies that the people mentioned after Korach were not the object but the subject in the sentence, meaning that they, too, were taking whatever Korach was taking, but what on earth did they take? The Talmud says that “Korach took a bad acquisition for himself” (Sanhedrin 109b). Arizal explains that this bad acquisition was the evil aspect of Kayin’s ruach (spirit). This is what caused him to persecute his brother Hevel (Abel) incarnated in Moshe. Korach erroneously thought that he had rectified the firstborn brother, Kayin, and therefore, he would be able to overpower Moshe. Yet, it was not Korach, but his descendent, Shmuel, the Prophet, who was able to rectify Kayin, having received the good part of Kayin’s spirit (The Gate of Reincarnation, Introduction 33, 36). The reason why the Torah didn’t specify what Korach took is because evil and darkness do not have true substance. When we extract the good points from the bad, then the bad automatically dissipates. Thus, when taking the evil spirit of Kayin, Korach took something that doesn’t have true existence. The Aramaic translation of ואתפלג קרח is, “Korach took himself aside” which implies that he took the bad from the good, and this causes lack of existence. Therefore, he eventually was swallowed up by the earth and ceased to exist.  In contrast, Aharon pursued Shalom (Pirkei Avot 1:12), by means of which he became a vessel to contain the blessings and bless Israel with Shalom. Conversely, a person who upholds controversy – the opposite of Shalom – blemishes his vessel. Even if he receives abundant goodness, without a proper vessel to contain it, none of it will remain with him. All the goodness will dissipate through the hole in his vessel and be lost forever. All he is left with is a broken empty vessel. This happened to Korach, who also lost all his wealth. This is the meaning of “Korach took a bad acquisition.” He took something that doesn’t keep without the vessel of peace to contain it. Yet, in the future, when Eliyahu Hanavi, (also from the root of Kayin - Gate of Reincarnation, Introduction 35), will make Shalom in the world, he will be able to rectify even Korach, as is alluded in the verse, “the tzaddik will blossom like the date palm” (Tehillim 92:13). The last letters of these words spell out the name of Korach: צַדִּיק כַּתָּמָר יִפְרָח/tzaddik katamar yifrach (Agra D’Kalah, Parashat Korach). 

Meditation for Transmuting Jealousy

The key to healing jealousy and controversy is found in the awareness that these negative emotions have no true existence. The first step of our healing is to stop running away from ourselves by focusing on others. We can begin our healing process by turning to the present moment and acknowledge our own experiences deeply. The following meditation is designed to help transmute jealousy, by shedding light upon our personal experience of this painful emotion.

1. Allow yourself to be present in the here and now, tuning into the painful sensation of your burning throbbing jealousy. Pay attention to where in the body it resides, in your stomach, heart region, throat or all of them?  

2. Let yourself feel the raw sensations without judgment and without trying to make them ‘better.’ Let go of the label ‘jealousy,’ just feel the aliveness of your experience.

3. Get in contact with your own doubts and insecurities, your feeling of unworthiness and powerlessness. 

4. Can you feel the root of your pain? – Perhaps it is the urgent need to take control?

5. Don’t run away from experiencing your discomfort and don’t be afraid to keep focusing on the pain within you.  

6. Bring awareness and light to the aching and ignored shadows within yourself. 

7. Note the good points within that lost jealous child in yourself, who always longed for love and understanding and felt ‘faraway’ from life and fun. 

8. Get in touch with the innocence, even within that lost child, who would destroy a universe just to get attention.

9. Bring gentleness and loving-kindness to your inner, jealous child, who felt left out in the cold. 

10. From a place of deep acceptance of yourself as you are, allow yourself to access sparks of compassion for those whom you previously regarded as your ‘rivals.’ Perhaps, you can even share the happiness of their achievements.

11. Allow yourself to become part of their abundance rather than the judge of it. You may be able to learn from your ex-enemies, or at least be inspired by them. 

12. Alternatively, you can forget about them altogether, let go of trying to know their experience, and simply walk your path! 

13. In your transformed state, you realize that there is enough room in Hashem’s universe for everyone to walk their own path, find their own happiness, dance their own dance. Including you.

Human Beings Rather than ‘Human Havings’

“Korach took…” By trying to fill up his own emptiness, a jealous person will always take from others. Yet, “Who is rich? The person who is happy with his portion” (Pirkei Avot 6:1).

He doesn’t need to take from others or envy them. We can achieve this level by becoming centered within ourselves and content with who we are, realizing that we are human beings rather than ‘human havings.’ We then realize that all our achievements and acquisitions or the lack of them are all completely in accordance with Hashem’s plan. Then, we can let go of trying to take control, and just accept and rejoice with what is. May we all become happy with our portion, count our blessings in the awareness that what we have is exactly our portion, designated precisely for us by our loving Creator. Don’t we really have everything we need right now, including the necessary lack that helps us grow?