Parshas Korach: The Bruised Ego Behind Machlokes

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

Why did Korach rise up with such deep philosophical arguments? Rashi on the opening pasuk shows that Korach's feelings were hurt when he was passed over for leadership. Once the ego is bruised, arguments to support it come easily. The practical lesson is that when a nisayon is hard, it is worth checking the ego and its biases, as with the kinah and sinah of the brothers who sold Yosef.

Key points

• The dor hamidbar stumbled because they were great, like doctors second-guessing a prescription.
• A saying brought in the Vilna Gaon's name makes gaiva the root of all middos.
• Rashi shows Korach's bruised ego, after being passed over, came before his philosophical arguments.

Topics

• Parashas Korach
• Gaiva
• Kinah