Korach: Ensue, Not Pursue

By Zachary Fish

This week, we find ourselves amidst a fierce political battle, questioning whether the nation's leader is truly fit to serve. I am not referring to the calls for President Biden to withdraw his candidacy, but rather the challenge posed by Korach against the leadership of Moshe and Aharon. As the story unfolds, Hashem unequivocally affirms that Moshe and Aharon are the rightful leaders of Bnei Yisrael, and that Aharon's lineage will forever serve as the kohanim.

But why Aharon? What merit granted him the honor of being the forefather of the kehuna, even above his illustrious brother, Moshe Rabbeinu?

The Kli Yakar (17:23) offers an explanation that holds significance for us all. When Hashem informs Aharon of the matnas kehuna, He begins with ואני הנה נתתי לך (Bamidbar 18:8). What does והנה add? To explain, the Kli Yakar directs us to another use of והנה. When Aharon greeted Moshe, the pasuk says, הנה־הוא יצא לקראתך וראך ושמח בלבו, “And also, behold, he comes to meet you: and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart” (Shemos 4:14).

What is the connection between these two pesukim? The Kli Yakar explains that because Aharon went out to greet Moshe with joy (and therefore with zeal) and without any jealousy, he was granted the position and privilege of kehuna.

How remarkable is that! What allowed Aharon to attain his great honor was that he was not chasing honor. This is in stark contrast to Korach, who actively pursued honor at all costs and ended up facing enormous embarrassment.

There is a fundamental lesson here: many of life's most desirable things, like happiness, honor, and recognition, cannot be obtained by pursuing them directly but rather by living life the right way.

No one has expressed this more eloquently than Viktor Frankl:

For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it.

May we be inspired to live our lives the right way, and may Hashem grant us all the blessings in return.