This week we read about a tragic rebellion against Moshe and Aharon. Korach, their cousin, challenged their leadership and their appointments, and ended up being swallowed up in the ground along with his family and those of his main followers. When we read some of the background of the story in the Midrash, Talmud and Chassidus, we see that Korach was no dummy. He is described as a wise man, a leader and prophet. He was the wealthiest man in the nation, and was looked up to and respected by many up to this point. There are many levels of explanation as to why he rebelled and what his complaints against Moshe were. There are those who say that he felt he should have been the tribal leader, or that he wanted everyone to have the opportunity to be High Priests and offer the incense in the Temple, or that he did not believe there should be any leaders at all because "the entire community is holy and Hashem is within them."
I want to look at the story from the perspective of leadership. We see here two leaders. Moshe, the most successful leader of all time, and Korach, a dismal failure. Besides the obvious difference that Moshe was appointed by Hashem and Korach was fighting Hashem's choice, I am struck ny a major difference in the motivation and style of the two leaders. Moshe is described as a shepherd. He was reluctant to assume the leadership because he felt he was not worthy and someone else would do a better job. Once he assumed leadership, he was motivated purely by the benefit of his people, all the people, even those who rebelled against him. at the last moment before Datan and Aviram and their families disappeared underground, and after they had refused to come and speak to Moshe, Moshe himself went to their tents to try to get them to change their minds. Moshe's entire purpose, every action that he took, was as a servant of Hashem and a shepherd of the people. He was so humble and ego-less that when he did stand up and assert his power, it was not his own power but that of Hashem.
Korach, on the other hand, felt that he deserved to lead the people. Because of his lineage, his scholarship, his wealth, his respect in the community, he was entitled to leadership. It was about him, not about what was right for the people. Even the spiritual pursuits that our Sages ascribe to him were for his own spiritual growth, whereas Moshe was prepared to sacrifice his life and his legacy in the Torah to protect those who had sinned with the Golden Calf. Aaron the Hugh Priest spent his time making peace between people and working with those who were far from observance, encouraging them with love to approach Torah. He also was reluctant to take the position and did so only because it was Hashem's wish.
True leadership is not about the leader but about the benefit he brings to his people. As soon as it becomes about the leader's rights or needs, it is no longer true leadership. When that caliber of leader needs to assert himself and enforce his authority, he is not thinking about preserving his position. Rather he knows that in order to fulfill his mission to lead his people and help them stay on the right track, he cannot allow self-serving leaders to take over, and will fight to preserve the nation's integrity, despite the fact that it runs against his humble nature.
Our generation saw a true, selfless leader like this. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the "Lubavitcher Rebbe," was the greatest leader of our time, yet it was clear that every one of his actions, every word he said and every position he took was purely for the benefit of the Jewish people and the world at large. People listened and followed him not because of the force of his personality, but because we knew that he was motivated only by his deep love of every person and his understanding of the mission that Hashem had given each person. There is no way I can begin to do justice to describing his combination of greatness and humility, so I will leave it at that. Please see here for a lot more on the Rebbe. This coming Tuesday is the third of Tamuz, the Rebbe's Yartzeit. I will be joining tens of thousands of Jews from all over the world who will be visiting his resting place in New York, to pray to Hashem for a few moments at this sacred spot on this auspicious day, to try to connect to his holiness and legacy, as is the ancient Jewish tradition. If you would like me to mention your name at the graveside, please reply to this email with your Jewish name and that of your mother. May we merit the immediate revelation of Moshiach, when, the Torah teaches, the souls of the departed will be resurrected, and we will be reunited in the physical world with our great leader the Rebbe and all the great leaders of all the generations, along with the entire Jewish people.