Good Influences
Rabbi Aryeh Citron
Parsha Halacha
Parshat Korach
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Good Influences
In the Torah portion of Korach we read about the rebellion and downfall of Korach and his co-conspirators.[1] According to the Talmud,[2] Korach received bad advice from his wife. She encouraged him to rebel against Moshe for the supposed slight of being shaved on the day of the consecration of the Mishkan. [3]
Korach’s wife said: “See what Moshe has done. He himself became king; he appointed his brother as High Priest; he made his brother’s sons into vice High Priests. If Teruma (the tithe for the Kohen) is brought, he decrees, ‘Let it be for the priest.’ If Ma’aser is brought, which belongs to you (the Levi’im), he orders, ‘Give a tenth part to the priest.’ Moreover, he had your hair cut off, and makes fun of you as though you were dirt; for he was jealous of your hair.”
He said to her: “But he did the same to himself!” (As a Levi, Moshe’s hair was also shaved off.)
She replied: “Since all the greatness was his, he said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines.’[4] (I.e. he was willing to look foolish just in order to make you look foolish). Moreover, he commanded you: “Place fringes of blue wool (t’cheilet) at the corners of your garments.” [5] If there is virtue in blue wool then bring blue wool and clothe your entire group with it (and challenge Moshe as to whether these garments need tzitzit).” [6]
Ohn’s Wife
Conversely, the wife of one of Korach’s original collaborators, Ohn, the son of Peles, was responsible for saving him from calamity. According to the Talmud, she said to her husband: “Why does it matter to you? Whether Moshe remains the master or Korach becomes the master of the entire people, you will remain only a follower.”
He replied: “But what can I do? I have taken part in their counsel and have sworn to be with them.”
She said: “I know that they are all a holy community, as it is written: ‘Seeing the entire congregation is holy, every one of them.’[7] So stay here and I will save you.”
She gave him wine to drink which intoxicated him and lay him down within the tent. She then sat down at the entrance of the tent, removed her hair covering and loosened her hair. Whoever came to summon her husband saw her hair and retreated.[8]
This is why Ohn’s name is missing from the rest of the story of the rebellion although he is mentioned in the first verse of the Torah portion.
The Talmud concludes: “Concerning women such as the wife of Ohn, King Solomon said: ‘Every wise woman builds her house.’ Whereas concerning women such as the wife of Korach, he said: ‘But the foolish woman destroys it with her hands.’”[9]
In our history there are many women who shaped their husbands to become great people.
Several examples:
- Some say that Samson’s mother, Tzlelponit, was wiser and more righteous than her husband Mano’ach.[10] He was wise enough, however, to follow her advice when seeking the angel who would instruct them about their son Samson.[11]
- According to the Midrash,[12] Devorah the Prophetess’s husband Lapidot[13] was unlearned. Devorah encouraged him to make wicks for the Mishkan in Shiloh, which he did. In her merit, he received a share with the righteous in the World to Come.[14]
· Rabbi Akiva was an unlearned shepherd until his wife Rachel encouraged him to go the Yeshivah and study for twenty-four consecutive years. It was only because of her that Rabbi Akiva became who he became; one of the pillars of the Oral tradition of the Torah. [15]
Bad Wives
Conversely there were women who influenced their husbands to turn to sin. Amongst them:
· King Solomon’s many wives (who came from gentile backgrounds) turned his heart away from G-d.[16]
· Queen Jezebel taught her husband, King Ahab, to serve idols. In addition, she arranged for the killing of his cousin Naboth (and Naboth’s sons) in order for her husband to confiscate his vineyard.[17] Due to Ahab’s complicity in this crime, it was decreed that he be killed and that the dogs lick his blood in the field of Naboth which he had stolen.[18] It was she who caused Ahab and his sons to be destroyed both in this world and in the World to Come.[19]
· Although Chava (Eve) was a righteous woman in many respects, it was she who convinced Adam to eat from the Tree of Knowledge.[20]
According to Rabbi Yehoshu’a, the most important decision a person makes in his life is who his (or her) spouse will be.[21]
Good Neighbors
We also learn from this Torah Portion about the influence of one’s neighbors on one’s behavior.
Korach, as a member of the Kehot family, was camped to the South of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) near the Tribe of Reuven.[22] He thus influenced them to participate in his rebellion.[23] Conversely, The Tribe of Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevulun were camped to the East of the Mishkan, near Moshe, Aharon and Aharon’s sons. As a result, these tribes excelled in Torah.[24]
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yossi, the most important quality for a person to have is good neighbors.[25] On the other hand, the worst thing for a person to have is bad neighbors. A person usually spends more time with their neighbors than with their friends and is therefore greatly influenced by them. For this reason, King Solomon said: “A close neighbor is better (more significant to a person) than a distant brother.”[26]
In fact, if a person has something good to sell, he should offer it to a neighbor or friend that he is close to rather than to a relative with whom he doesn’t have a relationship.[27]
Choosing Where to Live
Maimonides writes:[28]
It is natural for a man's character and actions to be influenced by his friends and associates and for him to follow the local norms of behavior. Therefore, he should associate with the righteous and be constantly in the company of the wise so as to learn from their deeds. Conversely, he should keep away from the wicked who walk in darkness so as not to learn from their deeds.
This is [implied by] Solomon's statement: "He who walks with the wise will become wise, while one who associates with fools will suffer."[29] Similarly, the verse states: "Happy is the man who has not followed the advice of the wicked."[30]
A person who lives in a place where the norms of behavior are evil and the inhabitants do not follow the straight path should move to a place where the people are righteous and follow the ways of the good.
If all the places with which he is familiar and of which he hears reports follow improper paths, as in our times, or if he is unable to move to a place where the patterns of behavior are proper, because of [the presence of] bands of raiding troops, or for health reasons, he should remain alone in seclusion as the verse says: "Let him sit alone and be silent."[31]
If they are wicked and sinful and do not allow him to reside there unless he mingle with them and follow their evil behavior, he should go out to caves, thickets, and deserts [rather than] follow the paths of sinners, as the verse states: "Who will give me a lodging place for wayfarers, in the desert."[32]
· By choosing to live in a G-d fearing community, one can be saved from bad occurrences in their merit.[33]
· Rabbi Yossi ben Kismah refused offers of great wealth in order to remain living in a place of Torah (study).[34]
· One of the reasons that the Jews were commanded to eradicate the Canaanites and other indigenous nations from the Land of Israel is so that they not learn from their idolatrous ways.[35]
Good Neighborly Conduct
To be a good neighbor means to:[36]
· Be kind and friendly to one’s neighbors and help them as needed.
· Overlook the harm your neighbors may cause and recall the favors they did for you.
· Be an example of moral and upright behavior.
· Not watch your neighbor as he goes about his private affairs.[37]
o This includes not peering through their open front door.[38]
· Not cause harm to the possessions of one’s neighbors.[39]
· Not disturb them with excessive noise, especially if one’s neighbor is sensitive to noise.[40]
· Not be jealous of one’s neighbor’s house, spouse or belongings.[41]
[1] Numbers Chapter 16
[2] Sanhedrin 110a
[3] See Numbers
[4] Judges 16, 30 These are the words of the request that Samson made to G-d, just prior to his causing the collapse of the Philistine Temple, thereby killing the numerous dignitaries that had gathered within it to witness his humiliation at the hands of his captors. This term connotes a desire for revenge so palpable, that the individual calling for it is ready to undergo any personal indignity, just to hurt their enemy. See: http://www.kmsynagogue.org/Korach.html
[5] Numbers 15, 38
[6] See Rashi on Numbers 16, 2
[7] Numbers, 16, 3 I.e. I know that they will not enter our tent if I bare my hair in front of it (see below) – Maharsha.
[8] According to the rules of modesty, a man may not look at the uncovered hair of a married woman other than his wife. See Numbers, 5, 18.
[9] Proverbs, 14, 11 See Maharsha that in the case of Korach’s wife, she literally destroyed her house as it was swallowed up by the earth together with all of their possessions.
[10] Yalkut Me’am Lo’ez on Judges 13, 3 quoting Ralbag
[11] Rashi on Judges 13, 11
[12] Tana Devei Eliyahu, quoted in Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities by Y. Chasidah
[13] Some say his real name was Barak.
[14] Yalkut Shimoni, Shoftim 42, See Judges, 4 and 5
[15] Nedarim 50a, Ketubot 62b See: http://www.chabad.rg/library/article_cdo/aid/111936/jewish/Rachel-Rabbi-Akibas-Wife.htm
[16] King 1, 11, 1 - 12
[17] Kings 1, 21 See Rabbi Yehudah’s opinion in Sanhedrin 48b
[18] Kings 1, ibid 19
[19] Tana Devei Eliyah Rabbah, 10, quoted in Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities by Y. Chasidah
[20] Gen. 3 See Bereishit Rabbah, 19, 5 as to how she convinced him.
[21] Avot 2, 10 as interpreted by Rabeinu Yisrael (quoted in the Midrash Shmuel)
[22] Numbers 3,10 – 16 and 29 The other neighbors of Kehot, the tribes of Shimon and Gad also caused strife and arguments. (See Numbers 25 that the Tribe of Shimon was heavily involved with the daughters of Moav and ibid 32 that the Tribe of Gad were the ones who initially had the idea to stay on the East bank of the Jordan River.)
[23] Bamidbar Rabbah 3, 12 and Tanchumah, Numbers 12
[24] Ibid and ibid See Gen. 49, 10 that kingship would come from Judah would. In Chronicles 1, 12, 32 we see that Yissachar was a tribe that was “understanding of the times” i.e. members of the Sanhedrin who would establish the Jewish calendar. In Judges, 5, 14 we read that the Tribe of Shimon had many scribes.
[25] Avot, 2, 10 See Midrash Shmuel there that Rabbi Yossi said this because he was extremely pious. One’s true piety is only evident from the conduct in their home. Thus it is important to have good neighbors who will encourage this behavior and not scoff at it.
[26] Proverbs 27, 10
[27] Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Dinei Mechirah Umatanah, 5
[28] Laws of De’ot 6, 1
[29] Proverbs 13, 20
[30] Psalms 1, 1
[31] Eicha 3, 28
[32] Jeremiah 9, 1
[33] See Gen. 18 that G-d was willing to spare the five wicked cities in the merit of a (comparatively) few righteous men.
[34] Avot, 6, 10
[35] See Ex. 23, 33
[36] See Midrash Shmuel on Avot, 2, 10
[37] Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Dinie Nizkei Mammon, 11
[38] Ibid
[39] Ibid 11 - 25
[40] Ibid, 17
[41] Ex. 20, 14