Korach-Yes We Can

The story of Korach is not just about him. It is about the ravages that ensued because of him. The conflagration of quarrel that he incited is so intense that it smolders even the innocent children. Hardly anyone escapes it gripping force. It is a Rip current that sweeps its victims into the open sea of decimation.

Liability in the earthly courts begins at Bar Mitzvah while in the heavenly courts at age of twenty. However, in our Parsha, even nursing children were lost (Rashi, Numbers 16:27).

Yet in every bleak situation beauty can emerge. Beauty, thy name is the children of Korach. They managed to abscond at the proverbial buzzer. If there ever was a last possible moment this was it.

In Parshas Pinchas we are informed that the children of Korach didn’t die (Ibid 26:11).

The clash between Korach and Moshe reached its climax, Hashem’s decree unleashed. A horrific scene unfolded in front of the perpetrators eyes. At first, there was a small tremor. Slowly, it magnified into a rumble. Quicker then their minds could grasp the small cracks became a gapping hole to a seeming abyss. With lighting speed the children of Korach were drawn in with an unstoppable force screaming in terror.

Abruptly, they ceased to fall landing on a plateau saved from the ensuing travail. They had escaped. Why?

Rashi (ad loc) explains. They were involved first. At the time of the altercation they repented in their hearts. Therefore, a tall place emerged for them in the abbadon and they sat on it.

The Divine Inspiration hovered upon them and they prophesized about the exiles, the destruction of the Temple, and the monarchy of David. (Rashi, Psalms 42:1)


They didn’t give up. One should never give up even if a prophet who is on the highest echelon of human accomplishment (Rambam, Yesodei HaTorah 7:1) tells us that it is too late.

This is what King Chizkiyahu told Isaiah.

Isaiah informed him that he had lost his portion in the World to Come because he refused to have children knowing they would be vile.

Isaiah said there was no hope and he shall suffer the fate pronounced upon him regardless of his efforts.

Chizkiyahu responded, Son of Amotz, end your prophesy and go. I have a tradition from my grandfather. Even if a sharp sword rests upon a person’s neck, he should not refrain from mercy. (Brachos 10a)

The resolve not to abjure from achieving one’s objectives is the driving force behind greatness.

Greatness is the expectation.

Consistent with that reality the Rambam writes that every person can be as righteous as Moshe our teacher (Hilchos Teshuva 5:2).

Therefore, a person is obligated to say, when will my actions be like the actions of my forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov? (Tanna Debei Eliahu Rabbah 1:25).

One may have the itch to say, I can’t. It’s not for me. That’s false.

Yes we can (Bob the Builder) be great. We can understand the Torah, change our character traits, relate to Hashem through prayer, and to keep the mitzvos.

We can soar to the ethers that transcend the realm of our mediocrity. We can burst open the gates of our imagination of what we can accomplish and dwell beyond the scope of our perceived aspirations and capabilities.



Shel Silverstein’s artistic flair manifested by the grace of his pen captured the emotional expression of this idea.

Listen to the MUSTN’T child,
Listen to the DON’TS.
Listen to the SHOUDN’TS, the IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS.
Listen to the NEVER HAVES,
Then listen close to me –
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.