B”H

Please Pray for Yaakov Naftali Ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim, and Eyal ben Iris Teshura to return home safely and speedily.

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KORACH - THE SOUL OF A MITZVAH
By Rabbi Yonassan Biggs

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Shalom and Bracha!

This Shabbat we bless the month of Tammuz and read the portion of Korach. Korach was a Levi, Moshe Rabbeinu’s cousin. He led a rebellion against Moshe and Aharon, challenging Aharon’s right as the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Hashem quelled the rebellion, and the rebels were either swallowed by the ground or consumed by flames from heaven. Last week, we read the narrative of the spies, who rebelled against Moshe and didn’t want to go to Israel. Hashem punished them with miraculous deaths. Seemingly, why didn’t Korach learn his lesson from the spies?

Chassidic teaching gives a deeper understanding to the narrative of the spies. The spies were great men, leaders, personally picked by Moshe. Having witnessed the miracles of the exodus, why did they fear the inhabitants of the land? Chassidut explains that their fear was not of the inhabitants, but of the living in the land itself. In the desert, the Jews lived a purely spiritual lifestyle, unhindered by agriculture and business. They studied Torah all day, constantly witnessing the miracles of Hashem. Upon entering Israel, this would cease. They would till the land, harvest the fruits, and fulfill the commandments in their physical sense, but have the focus and exert to feel spirituality. This was hinted in their complaint “the land swallows its inhabitants.” Thus they preferred the desert. Their error was that Hashem’s will is in the physical Mitzvah, a person living actively in this world and subjugating the physical by doing Mitzvot.

Upon hearing this, Korach was inspired to rebel. If the main thing is the physical acts, he reckoned, I am the same as Moshe and Aharon. In spirituality, Moshe outdistances me: Hashem spoke directly to him and he knows the depth of each Mitzvah. In action, however, we are equal.

He erred, however. Just as a person is a composite of a body and a soul, a Mitzvah is a composite of a deed and its depth and meaning. The Zohar teaches that a Mitzvah without intent (kavana) is like a body without a soul. The intent serves like wings, raising the deeds to heaven. The deeds of Moshe were the same as those of Korach, but they were imbued with the fervor of one who had spoken to G-d. By connecting ourselves to Moshe, Moshe’s light illuminates our Mitzvot. By separation from Moshe, the actions lose their soul. This is also the significance of Tzaddikim throughout all generations. The Tanya explains that the spiritual and physical blessings of the generation come through the soul of the Tzaddik.

Korach was the epitome of divisiveness. Divisiveness brought the destruction of the Temple and unity will bring its rebuilding. May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily and to the universal peace he will bring.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Biggs

In merit of Yaakov Naftali Ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim, and Eyal ben Iris Teshura to return home safely and speedily

A project of Chabad of Great Neck
400 East Shore Rd.
Great Neck NY 11024
516 4874554 fax 516 4874807

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Crisis!!

Three young Israeli Yeshivah students, Yaakov Naftali Ben Rochel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim, and Eyal ben Iris Teshura, have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. As we shudder from the thought of a child kidnapped on the way home from school, we need to act. If we act according to the directives of Torah, Hashem will surely answer our prayers and reunite these families swiftly and safely.

As we pray on Yom Kippur we cry out as a congregation that Teshuvah, prayer and charity avert and transform evil decrees. These three innocent boys would put on Tefillin every day. If you don’t currently put on Tefillin, put them on for them. If you do Thank G-d, encourage someone who doesn’t. They have been removed from the Mezuzahs of their homes and school. Place a Mezuzah for them on a door that needs one. They prayed every day in synagogue. Let’s all add to our prayers for them. They studied Torah all day. They can’t, so let’s all study something extra each day.

The captives are 16 and 19, so the chapters 17 and 20 in Psalms relate specially to them. Whenever we pray for someone, we give charity. Add to charity every day until they come home. Special funds have been set up in their merit to increase Torah and Mitzvot for them. If you would like to donate to one of these funds please contact me. Please encourage others to Mitzvot as well. And PLEASE share with me what you have done. I will share the Mitzvot with their parents, which will bring them comfort and strengthen their Bitachon in the speedy return of their loved ones.

May our unity in bringing light to the world cancel the darkness and usher in the final redemption when all captives will be freed and united in the land of Israel with Moshiach

Shabbat Shalom and May we hear good news speedily,

Rabbi Biggs