Korah versus Aaron – What a (NOT)  fight!

  Why does the
 portion of Korach start with the rebellion of
  Korah and his followers and end with the
 Almighty   apportioning the tithes to the
 children of Aaron (the High   Priest)?

 In the Mishna it says "be  of the followers of Aaron
     seeking peace and loving peace …"

 and our  teachers explained

 he would go to two people who  had an argument,
one at a time,
 and tell the first one "You know how this  argument makes your
 friend feel so bad, that they really 
 wish  they knew how to end the argument."

 The n he would go  say
 the same thing to the other party -
And bring them together …

 so the argument would end!

 Korach was a "pragmatist" - saying
 that Aaron made the golden calf - so
  he must be disqualified from leading

 BUT THE PRIESTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PEACEMAKERS
 - NOT JUST LEADERS!

 the Almighty knew that Aaron only got involved in
  the golden calf thing to try to prevent
 bloodshed when the people went wild

  he WAS BRINGING PEACE - AND CERTAINLY NOT WORSHIPPING IDOLS

 he was even willing NOT TO DEBATE Korach - for the sake of peace in
 Israel-

 Aaron didn't enter into the fight here - Moses represented his side.

That’s why we learn G-d's reward for
 the staying out of this rebellion - was

 The gifts of eating some of the
 the sacrifices and redemption of the first  born -

  because when we give
 offerings it is to bring peace - and when a child or a new
 animal enters the world

 IT  IS ALL TO GIVE US A NEW CHANCE TO BRING PEACE TO THE
 WORLD.

 May we see more peace, and increase peace in the world

 Shabbat Shalom

 Rabbi Andy Eichenholz