(2005/5765)

The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat on Daf 119b states: “Rav Yitzchak said: Yerushalayim was destroyed only because they made no distinctions between people of low stature and those of high stature.”  Yoma 9b, though, attributes the Churban to “baseless hatred,” or Sin’at Chinam, between Jews.

The Be’er Moshe finds these statements unharmonious and possibly contradictory.  No distinction between great and regular people emanates a sense of unity, with people having minimal differences on the social ladder.  This would seemingly show that the people respected each other and formed a sense of equality, disproving the theory that there was hatred and spite amongst the communities!

A deeper understanding of these statements of Chazal reveals that this is not the case.  In fact, when a group considers small people on the same level as great people, they lose their sense of respect for the Gedolei HaDor and those who are truly great, as Korach and his Eidah did.  Korach and his followers claimed that Moshe and Aharon discriminated against the masses when choosing leaders.  He complains (Bemidbar 16:3), “Ki Kol HaEidah Kulam Kedoshim…UMadua Titnas’u Al Kehal Hashem,” “The entire nation - everyone is holy…why do you raise yourselves above Hashem’s congregation?”  Korach blurred the lines between the leaders and the commoners, forming a group that did not recognize its true place on the social ladder.  This Eidah would try to defend its position as a fight for social justice, causing strife and hatred among the Jews, who would now be brought into the Machloket.

Korach spoke up, not trying to achieve unity, but rather attempting to spark a fire within the nation to overthrow the leadership and take over.  Korach was selfish and jealous of his own cousins, bringing fighting and friction into the camp he claimed was entirely holy.

Korach’s actions emphasize the need to observe the commandments of Kavod HaRav and Kibud Av VaEm.  When no one respects those who have influence and power, both spiritual and political, the population falls into a tailspin of chaos and disarray without true guidance.  Conversely, when everybody respects their elders and those with authority, Bnei Yisrael can achieve unity and camaraderie, the exact attributes that will help quicken the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days.