In a world of disharmony and conflict, it is often difficult to separate good from evil, to distinguish those who are operating for the greater community and those who are promoting only themselves and a specific doctrine or belief. As the hostilities in Iraq have grown exponentially in the past few weeks, how do those who believe in peace and democratic values offer assistance and to whom? Certainly, there is not an easy answer. In fact, there may not be an answer as a battle between apparent despots and terrorists just may be exactly that. So, where do we look to find the essence or absence of the values that underlie actions?

In this week's Torah portion, Korach, we find the story of Korach's rebellion. Korach challenges the leadership of Moses and Aaron and gives an eloquent argument, positing that all people are equal in the eyes of God. There is a seductive veneer to his speech. However, from God's response (Korach and his followers are literally swallowed by the ground) and from other actions of Korach, we can see that his motives and the basis for his challenge are not so pure. In Korach's case, the pursuit of power is corrupt and, in fact, an affront to God. Korach is acting out of anger and the goal of his challenge is to acquire power for himself. In contrast, we know that Moses and Aaron did not seek to be leaders, but the circumstances of the day and their abilities thrust the roles upon them.
 
The Israelites needed strong leadership to lead them out of Egypt and across the desert to the Promised Land. Moses used his position for the betterment of his people, not for personal gain or glory. Whether locally or globally, it is critical to look beneath the surface to discover the character of those who seek to lead. As we think about our positions in our agencies and in the broader community, the lessons of Korach and the example of Moses are important to remember.

Shabbat Shalom