Parashat Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

Parashat Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32, has got to be one of the best Torah portions of the summer! We have a revolution (lead by Moshe's cousin), its resolution (that Moshe, he's always thinking) and a really cool solution (the earth swallowing up the bad people).

At first Korach seems concerned about Moshe. After all, he says (16:3ff), "You take too much upon yourselves, we are all holy, and God is amongst us all..." What is so negative about this? What is Korach really saying? Why would Moshe get mad at this kind of a statement?
When Moshe hears this he falls on his face. What does that mean? How else could you translate that statement? How would you have reacted if Korach and his buddies came to you and said what they said? Is Moshe worried about his own glory? Why or why not?
Moshe sets up a test whereby Korach and his guys are to bring their incense and pans and God will do something. God actually does appear and decides to ignore Moshe's little test and instead to wipe out the whole Israelite people. Where did Moshe's plan go wrong? Since God did not suggest it, might that have made God even more angry? Why do you think God was so angry in the first place?
God never mentions the whole earth-opening-and swallowing-the-bad-people-plan, but as soon as Moshe finishes speaking about it POOF the land opens and the bad guys do get swallowed up! Then a fire comes out from the Lord and the 250 rebels get burned up. Why did God have to treat them this way? Why couldn't they have just been kicked out of the people and made to wander in the desert without Moshe for the rest of their lives?
This rebellion happens right after the story of the spies when this generation finds out that they will not get to go to the land that God has promised (last week's parasha). What do you think is the connection? What do these two stories illustrate about the people who were wandering in the desert? What could Moshe do to help them? What can any leader ever do to help people who have become disillusioned?