A Soulful Journey

The stubborn man who yearned for power, Korach, could not change course.  He was warned many times by his peers and Moses to consider himself and others differently but he refused. "Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see that one has been opened for us," wrote Helen Keller. Sometimes life demands that we change but we insist on staying as we were.  Korach did not learn this lesson.  Helen Keller understood it well. Change is not our enemy; it is our opportunity.

“A controversy for the sake of Heaven will have lasting value, whereas a controversy not for the sake of heaven will not endure. What is an example of a controversy for the sake of Heaven? The debates of Hillel and Shammai. What is an example of a controversy not for the sake of Heaven? The rebellion of Korach and his associates.” - Avot 5:17

In a village near Koshnitz, a dispute broke out between the Hasidim and the Mitnagdim.   The Hasidim, which was the smaller group, decided to form their own congregation.   This was made known to R. Yisrael, the Maggid of Koshnitz.   He invited the heads of the Hasidim and said,   "There are serious punishments in the Torah for sinners, but we do not find that we are obligated to separate ourselves from them.   Only in one place in the Torah do we find "separate yourselves from this community," and this is in the dispute of Korah.   They wanted to introduce divisions within the camp, as it says in the Targum,   "and Korah divided," and whoever wishes to make divisions between Jews, we are commanded to separate from him.   (Ma'asey Ha-Tzadikim)   Rabbi Carl Astor