Saturday, July 6 Tanya Class 9:15am Morning Service: 10:00am Kiddush: 12:15pm Evening Service: 8:00pm Shabbat Ends: 9:21pm
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A BISSELE HUMOR
Three guys are alone on a desert island: an engineer, a biologist and an economist. They are starving and don't have a thing to eat, but somehow they find a can of beans on the shore. The engineer says: "Let's hit the can with a rock until it opens." The biologist has another idea: "No. We should wait for a while. Erosion will do the job." Finally, the economist says: "Let's assume that we have a can opener".
WEEKLY eTORAH
In this week's Parshah we read how Korach, a member of the Levitic tribe, challenged Moses' authority and appointed himself to the high priesthood. The Torah teaches that Korach was punished for his insubordination when the earth "opened up its mouth" and swallowed him up. Let's analyze what Korach did. He gave expression to his soul's awesome and unbridled yearning for the spiritual sublimation of high priesthood. Was that wrong? Every soul is suffused with divine passion. Was Korach meant to restrain his passion for G‑d? The Answer Is: Yes Yes, even the most sublime strivings of the spirit must be restrained when its passion drives a wedge between ourselves and others. We know our passion is misdirected when it prompts us to look down on others who have achieved less than us or begrudge those who have achieved more. We know our passion is toxic when our enthusiasm for Torah prevents us from befriending those who have yet to embrace it themselves. True love for G‑d should not drive us from each other; G‑d loves others as much as he loves us. Now we understand where Korach went wrong. Korach's zeal for the high priesthood led him to a rebellion that was bitterly divisive. This was the first indicator that his passion for G‑d was misguided; his love was not true and his beauty was not pristine. Korach was toxic and had to be stopped. On the other hand, spiritual energy that brings us closer to G‑d and to others is sacred and must never be stifled. It must radiate through everything we do. This brand of soul energy is graced with beauty. Every deed, every prayer, every devotion must be infused with it.
