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Michael Savage
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Several years ago on a trip from Los Angeles to San Diego, I tuned in to a late night radio talk show hosted by Michael Savage. His opinions and callers (IMO) were outrageous.
One call particularly caught my attention. The caller said: "I believe in President George Bush." Savage challenging answered: "What do you mean that you 'believe in George Bush.'"
The caller said, "If George Bush says something, I know it's true."
"Oh," Savage replied, "If George Bush came into your city and said that all men of color over the age of 18 should be rounded up and thrown in jail, you would do it?"
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President George Bush
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The caller said: "If President Bush said it, there would have to be a good reason to do it."
I was blown away. Savage came up with the most absurd example he could think of to challenge the man's blind faith in President Bush. He encouraged him to think about what he said and reconsider his unquestioning allegiance. This believer, however, could not be dissuaded. Once he had made up his mind he stopped listening and stopped thinking.
This week's parasha recounts the rebellion of Korach and his followers against Moses and Aaron. God had appointed Mosesas the leader of the Israelites, but Korach rejected his leadership. He went around to the Israelites and provoked them into rebellion. Korach and his followers "combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and the Lord is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above the Lord's congregation?" (Num. 15:3)
Moses challenged him to a "duel." Korach and Aaron would each offer incense. Whose ever incense God accepted would be validated as the true leader of Israel. The loser would be decreed when he died an unnatural death.
God accepted Aaron's offering, but the earth opened up and swallowed Korach and his followers. Q.E.D., Moses and Aaron were the legitimate rulers. Korach was not!
Right before the duel the Torah tells us: "Korach gathered the | |
Korach's Rebellion
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whole community against them [Moses and Aaron] at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting." (Num. 16:19) Rashi tells us that Korach was able to incite the community against Moses and Aaron by going to each tribe and arguing, "Do you think I am doing this for myself? I am doing this for your sake! Moses and Aaron are power hungry. One has declared himself King and the other Priest!" Korach soon had the entire people grumbling against Moses and Aaron.
Rabbi Ya'akov Moshe Harlap adds: how was it possible for the people to be so easily led astray? They all knew that God had appointed Moses and Aaron as their leaders. Why did they so quickly follow Korach?
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Gary Larsen's Lemmings
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One of the weaknesses of human beings, wrote Rabbi Harlap, is our proclivity to thoughtlessly follow the pack. Once people get an idea in their head, logic, rationality, and thoughtfulness flies out the window. And once people embrace a belief, it is difficult for them to stop, think, and reflect on their actions.
No one should ever believe anything so fervently that they become immune to challenge and criticism.
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
San Diego, CA 92119
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