Korach wasn't challenging Moses the miracle maker; he was challenging Moses as leader. The miracle maker had given his people a vision, but the man who saved the Children of Israel from destruction after the Golden Calf made no effort to save them from the consequences of one complaint after another, culminating with the Spies. Moses stopped praying to save his people. Korach summoned Datan and Aviram to his side; two people who manipulated the young Moses into saying, "Indeed, the matter is known (Exodus 2:14)," 'it is now clear that the Jews deserve to suffer as slaves in Egypt! (Rashi).'

There was a place in Moses' heart that did not believe in the people he led. Somewhere, deep inside Moses, was the feeling that the people were undeserving of his prayers. Such a man, believed Korach, should not be the leader. Korach declared, "The entire assembly, all of them, are holy, and God is among them (Numbers 16:3)," 'I believe in the people. I am the better leader.' Moses the miracle worker needed a Korach at his side.

Korach observed how ten men with a frightening report on the Land of Canaan could suck away more than a year of Moses' inspiration. When the people cried over the Spies' report, "Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the entire congregation (14:5)." Korach observed, and was convinced that leaders who fall on their faces rather than stand up to the people they lead, are failures. "They stood before Moses (16:2)," Korach was someone who would stand up to a challenge. Moses the miracle worker needed a Korach at his side.

Korach also suspected that Moses was failing as a miracle worker. He did not respond to the spies and offer a vision combined with an awesome miracle to prove God's strength. All the miracles of the past had faded from the peoples' hearts and were crushed by the force of despair created by the spies' negative report. Moses the miracle worker needed a Korach at his side. Korach did not expect Moses to use a miracle to win the challenge, and Korach was right.

"In the morning, tomorrow, God will make known who is His own (16:5)," 'we'll deal with this tomorrow,' said Moses, and everyone, including the leaders of the rebellion, accepted Moses' declaration. The people began heading home, excited about tomorrow's showdown, and could not help but recall the last time they heard 'Tomorrow.' It was Aaron standing before the Golden Calf who announced, "A festival for God tomorrow (Exodus 32:5)." It was the man who risked everything, including his spiritual life, who stood before the people to defend them. It was Aaron who loved the people, whose position Korach coveted. Had Korach ever risked anything for the people?

Moses acknowledged that he did not, could not, stand alone as leader, as had known when Aaron was sent by God to join him in speaking to the people and to Pharaoh. A miracle working super prophet was not the future of the Jewish people. The prophet who lived at a spiritual level beyond our comprehension would be sensitive to our failings and weaknesses. A superhero leader would have moments when, in his inability to connect with the average person, would be unable to pray for him.

The people would eventually have to build their own world. Moses gave them a vision of that world, but he did need someone at his side, but it was not a Korach whom he needed, but an Aaron, who used every moment standing at Moses' side to stand for the people. It is the teacher who connects to all the students, the rabbi who appreciates the beauty in every soul, the one who will fight for us specifically when the great leaders stop believing in us, the Aarons who connect us to what is beautiful within us so that we can strive toward the vision offered by Moses. The only meaningful miracle is the one we witness when an Aaron opens our eyes so we can see our potential for which he is willing to risk everything. The potential to realize Moses' vision.


Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
President 
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