This week’s portion, Korach (Num. 16:1 – 18:32) presents the
most serious challenge to Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership of the Israelites. Korach, their first cousin, challenges Aaron’s
exclusive right to the priesthood. At
the same time, Dathan and Abiram question Moses’ leadership ability. The two incidents lead to a rebellion. Moses orders Korach’s would-be priests to
bring their firepans and offer incense along with Aaron before God in the
sanctuary. God punishes Korach and his
followers by “opening the mouth of the earth” which swallows them, and all
their possessions. “And a fire went
forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty representatives
offering the incense” (Num.16:35).
After this incident, God commands Moses to order Eleazar,
the son of Aaron, to collect the firepans out of the ashes because, having been
used to make a sacred offering, they are now sacred. Eleazar molds the firepans into copper
plating for the altar, at God’s command.
Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, as quoted in the Etz Hayim Torah commentary, taught
that the holiness of the firepans symbolizes the necessary role played by
skeptics and agnostics in keeping religion honest and healthy.
Judaism has, and should always, encourage sincere questioning
and challenging of the status quo. And the fact that these firepans of the
rebels become a part of the sanctuary illustrates our desire to imbue every
human act, positive or negative, with God’s stamp of holiness.
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