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Did Hashem (ה׳) command Aharon's priesthood, or did Moshe initiate it and Hashem approve? The shiur uses Tosafos (תוספות) on Shabbos (שבת) 87a to argue that Hashem sometimes supports our decisions rather than initiating them. This reframes Korach's rebellion as questioning not whether Hashem spoke, but who initiated the message.
This shiur addresses a fundamental challenge in the story of Korach: how could the greatest leaders of Israel question Moshe Rabbeinu's appointment of Aharon as Kohen Gadol just one year after Sinai, when Hashem (ה׳) had guaranteed at Sinai that the experience would convince the people of Moshe's total reliability? Rabbi Zweig argues that this represents one of the most difficult questions regarding the authenticity of Judaism, since questioning any divine command opens the door to questioning all mitzvos. The answer comes through a profound insight from Tosafos (תוספות) in Shabbos (שבת) 87a regarding Moshe's separation from his wife Tzipporah. The Torah (תורה) states that after Sinai, Hashem told Moshe to remain available while everyone else returned to their tents. However, Tosafos explains that this separation was actually Moshe's own initiative, which Hashem then approved. The proof is that Aharon and Miriam criticized Moshe for this decision - if it had been clearly Hashem's original command, they would not have questioned it.
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Why does the Torah use "eicha" (how can it be) both for Moshe's lament and in Megillas Eicha? The shiur develops that disconnection from God creates existential paranoia - explaining why the Jewish people irrationally accused Moshe of plotting against them. The three weeks of mourning address this deeper spiritual death, not mere sin.
Why does Rashi mention the punishment of cherev (sword) for rejecting Torah when other violations carry more severe punishments? The shiur distinguishes between violating specific mitzvos and rejecting Hashem's fundamental authority established at Sinai. Complete denial of divine sovereignty constitutes mored b'malkus (rebellion against the king), which carries the unique punishment of cherev.
Parshas Korach
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