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Parshat Korach
Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat
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Shacharit
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Seudah & Mincha at the Portnoys
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Shabbat terminates
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2 Tammuz 5776 8 July 2016
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Thought For The Week
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Mincha & Ma’ariv
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Throughout the Tanach (Bible) we see
to a Midrash, Datan and Aviram were
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relationships where women gave their
the original trouble-makers in Egypt who
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husbands positive advice and saved them
threatened to expose Moshe for killing an
from making serious mistakes. Tzipporah
Egyptian, causing him to flee to Midian.
and Moshe, Sarah and Avraham, Rivka and
Another Midrash tells us that the wife of
Yitzchak are examples of this, and in our
On persuaded him to withdraw from the
Parasha the wife of On ben Pelet plays an
revolt, which is why he was not punished
important facilitating role.
when the earthquake swallowed the other
* Mincha & Kabbalat Shabbat
Chayim Arukim
to all those who have Yahrzeit this week as follows Sun
Marcia Lister Ian Knopf Daniel Maslin
Father Brother Mother
Mon
Bernard L Cohen Barbara Rothburn Liz Blaskey
Mother Mother Father
July 104 Sivan
11 July 5 Sivan
‘On’ The Ball
At the beginning of the story of Korach’s
rebels.
rebellion, we find On mentioned alongside
Just as the Jewish women kept the faith in
Tues
Charles Levine Father Siegfried Menachem Mother
Korach and Datan and Aviram, together
Egypt, and at Har Sinai refused to donate
Wed
with 250 elders of Bnai Yisrael. Each of
their jewellery to the Golden Calf project,
Ian Halpern Larraine Wolff
Mother Mother
these groups had a different grievance
On’s wife was loyal to Moshe as Hashem’s
Michelle Rothburn Jonathan Brownson Sandra Mason Gordon King Adrienne Somerfield
Mother Mother Husband Father Father
against Moshe and Aharon.
chosen leader. By encouraging her hus-
David Middleweek
Father
12 July 6 Sivan 13 July
7 Sivan Thurs
14 July 8 Sivan
שבת
16 July 10 Sivan
Kiddushim
Datan, Aviram, On and the 250 elders came from the tribe of Reuven, who was the oldest of Yaakov’s sons. Leadership usually vested in the firstborn and his
band to stay out of the ‘broiges’ she saved his life; he was immortalised in the Torah as the model Jewish husband who listened to his wife’s advice!
descendants, but Moshe and Aharon were
Rabbi Joel Portnoy
9 July Lynne & Jimmy Attias Jonathan Ferster
from the tribe of Levi, and this jealousy
16 July Nursery Leavers Shabbat
was from a senior branch of Moshe’s fam-
Shabbat Weather
ily and resented the fact that he had not
AM Rainy
23 July Unsponsored
been given a leadership role. According
was the basis of their challenge. Korach
23o High 15o Overnight Low
Parsha
verview
First Aliyah - 13 verses Korach, Datan and Aviram, and On ben Pelet challenge Moshe’s authority. Korach enlists 250 men to publicise the cause. Moshe proposes a test to indicate who G-d chooses. Datan and Aviram refuse to listen to Moshe’s summons. Second Aliyah - 6 verses Moshe angrily asks G-d not to accept the incense offerings of Korach’s group. Korach gathers the People to witness the “showdown”. As part of the test, the 250 people and Aharon will place a glowing coal on a special vessel, onto which they will put the incense. Third Aliyah - 24 verses Moshe asks for a unique death to be brought to all those who rebel, which will show that G-d did not approve of their test. Moshe pleads with the People to not side with Korach. The earth swallows Korach and his company, and a Divine fire consumed the 250 people. The copper from the incense pans was used as a cover for the Altar. Fourth Aliyah - 7 verses As a result of Moshe and Aharon’s quick thinking, a plague is stopped after already claiming 14,700 lives. Fifth Aliyah - 9 verses G-d tells Moshe to take 12 staffs from all the Tribes and place them in the Ohel Mo’ed with Aharon’s staff. The one that blossomed would be chosed as Kohen Gadol. Aharon’s staff blossoms. Sixth Aliyah - 24 verses G-d reiterates that the Kohanim and Levi’im hold special positions. There were several gifts that were given to Kohanim. Seventh Aliyah - 12 verses Several gifts were given to Levi’im, and there is also a rule that they will not receive land when the Land of Israel is divided amongst the Tribes.
e earth When th Korach & d swallowe eir h t ll a co. e ions wer possess too. d swallowe
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Delve into the deeper side of Judaism This week we analyse Korach’s mistake
Embracing Our Differences This week’s Parsha relates the story of the mutiny staged by Korach against Moshe and Aaron, who were chosen by Hashem to serve as the Prophet and as the High Priest respectively. The Rabbis in the Midrash make an interesting observation. “Korach was clever,” and therefore ask “why did he commit such a folly”? How did the Rabbis know that Korach was clever? Neither Korach nor his wisdom have been mentioned in the Torah before. The Rabbis must have discerned the wisdom of Korach from his rationale for staging the rebellion. On the surface, the mutiny seems to be a symptom of ego, craving power and fame. However let’s analyse Korach’s words carefully. “The entire community is holy, and G-d is within them. Why do you exalt yourselves above the community of G-d?” Korach’s argument focuses on why any person should consider themselves spiritually superior to anyone else. Truth and holiness are rooted in each and every soul; so why is Moshe telling people what Hashem wants? Why is Aaron serving as the exclusive High Priest? Why can’t we realize our relationship with
Hashem on our own, without teachers, leaders and priests? Korach argues against all forms of spiritual authority and leadership, and against any restricted role in the spiritual community. Korach aspires to create a society free from distinctions, borders and categories. We are all divine, we are all one. Korach’s message touches a chord in us and resonates in our hearts. This is because Korach was right (which is why the Torah wants us
The deepest unity is the unity found within diversity. If we are all the same, unity is no achievement. to know about his ideology.) But also wrong. We all come from one source. Before creation, there was only undefined unity. There were no borders, definitions or distinctions. On our deepest level, we crave to recreate this wholesomeness in our lives. Each of us, in our own way, yearns to go back to that pre-creation model of unity. The idea that all souls are the same was Korach’s mistake. We are accus-
tomed to thinking that definitions create barriers, and barriers cause hatred. We are convinced that to be spiritual means to have no borders. Creation was the act of making borders. From unity came diversity. From a single undefined God, came a complex and diverse universe. No two snowflakes are alike and no two people are alike. Hashem did this because the deepest unity is the unity found within diversity. If we are all the same, unity is no achievement. True unity is achieved when differences are imposed upon oneness, and each is given a distinct role in existence, complementing each other. Like notes in a song, each of us represent a unique and distinct note, and together we express a Divine masterpiece. In this world we must achieve unity within diversity. When each individual fulfils his or her role in existence, sharing with others their unique contribution, and learning from others the wisdom they lack on their own, Hashem’s unity is complete. Rabbi Aharon Bloch
If you would like to share your words of wisdom, please submit your article of no more than 500 words to nick@hale-community.org.uk
Parsha Stats Korach is the 38th of 54 sedras 5th of 10 in Bamidbar Written on 184 lines in a Torah (ranks 32nd) 95 verses - ranks 39th (9th in Bamidbar) 1409 words - ranks 36th (9th in Bamidbar) 5325 letters - ranks 35th (9th in Bamidbar)
Did You Know There are three mitzvot in this week’s parsha - two positives, and one prohibition. A Kohen was entitled to 24 gifts from different sacrifices, but did not receive any portions of the Land of Israel. Korach actually saw a vision of great people descending from him, including Samuel the Prophet. That is what drove him to challenge authority in this week’s parsha.
QA &
Read through the Parsha in English and find answers to the questions. LOLLIPOPS WILL BE AWARDED TO ANYONE WHO READS THROUGH IT, AND TELLS RABBI NICK THE CORRECT ANSWERS!
Which tribe were Datan, Aviram and On ben Pelet from? Which country is called a ‘Land flowing with milk and honey’? Who had to collect the fire pans after the 250 people died? Where was Aharon’s staff kept after it blossomed? How much is required to redeem a firstborn child? When is Korach first mentioned in the Torah?
On ben Pelet was one of Korach’s gang, but ended up dropping out before the test because his wife stopped him from taking part!
Just For Fun Question: How many Jews does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: How many Jews does it take to change a lightbulb?
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS: 1. Gadi ben Susi. 2. Grapes, Pomegranates & Figs. 3. That they looked like grasshoppers. 4. 40 days. 5. Three. BONUS: Joshua, Calev, and the women.
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KING AHEAD
In The Spotlight
COMMUNITY
Hayley Ferster & Avi Kasmir
EDUCATION
This week we celebrate the forthcoming marriage of Hayley Ferster to Avi Kasmir, which takes place on Sunday. Hayley caught Avi’s eye when they were children, but they only started dating two years ago, shortly after Avi visited Hayley to see how she was after being involved in a car accident. Avi works as a recruitment consultant, and Hayley works as part of the team in our Shule nursery, a position she will continue with even as they settle into married life in North Manchester. They are very excited to celebrate their wedding with friends and family from all over, although Hayley’s sister, Lauren will be on standby with tissues for everyone, because she expects a lot of teary eyes under the chuppah!
This week we explore ‘Leadership’, with insights from Rabbi Portnoy, Ruthie and Rabbi Amir Ellituv
BEYOND HALE
We wish Mazaltov to Hayley, Avi and their families, and a happy and healthy life together. We thank the family for their hospitality.
Mazaltov to
For more information, please contact Rabbi Aharon - 07817 780 193
If you would like to sponsor an edition of ‘Something For Everyone’, in honour of a simcha or for a yahrzeit, or for any reason, please contact the Shule office on 0161 980 8846 or admin@hale-community.org.uk
Caroline & Nicholas Herz on the birth of a granddaughter, a daughter to Gemma & Mike. Lynne & Jimmy Attias, Jonathan Ferster, to Lady Beryl Steinberg, and to Chaim Ferster on Hayley & Avi’s forthcoming marriage.