Parshas Korach /çìùjre

(38^th Parsha of 54 sections of the Torah)

By Rabbi Avraham David, great grandson of the Strettyner Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Langner  Numerical Interpretation of  Torah with aid of Gematria. Bible Code. Questions/Comments  212-372-7553. online at www.codeoftheheart.com 
©2006 Dvar Torah 5766   “Study Gematria and Sharpen Your Mind”  

Seek counsel from the Teachers of Torah and seek Hashem’s mercy

In this week’s Parsha, Moses personal integrity was challenged by his cousin, Korach, whom Korach accused of nepotism. We learned in the Midrash that Korach made fun of Moshe with several halachic questions. He asked Moshe if a garment is made of all techeiles, if it requires a thread (tsitsis) of  techeiles. The problem that I find is that no where in the Torah does it discuss this question. Where do find an allusion to this from the Torah? According to the sages of Israel, we find it from last week’s parsha where it discusses the laws of tsitisis and the blue thread. With the aid of the codes, we do find an allusion to the question of Korach. Before we show the code, lets see what happened in our Parsha. Moses prayed to God to make a new creation to show once and for all that his word was true and that the Torah of God is true. He asked , vhp ,t vnstv v,mpu , “the earth will open it’s mouth” (Numbers 16:30). In fact, the creation would totally annihilate Korach, Dasan and Aviram and the 250 men of esteem. The Torah tells us that earth literally opened up and swallowed these people with all of their possessions. The outcome was as if they never existed. Indeed, we see the exact term,  v,mpu , upatsisah, located exactly where Moses teaches us about the law of tsitsis and techeilis. The Torah says, vhvu: ,kf, kh,p ;bfv ,mhm… (and they shall place) the tsitsis of each corner a thread of turquoise wool. And it will be… (Numbers 15:38-39). If we take the acronym of the encircled letters, it spells the term , v,mpu,  upatsisah meaning it shall open up.  This teaches us that as a result of Korach making fun of Moshe and specifically about the Techeilis, he was punished by the earth opening it’s mouth and swallowing him and his group alive. We must take all of the commandments of God very seriously. Even if it is a simple blue thread. By wearing tsitsis we get protection from natural disasters. For those who made fun us, they have all disappeared like Korach. As noted in the Talmud, the blue thread has much symbolism as it really represents Heaven, which represents the throne of God (See Tractate Menachos 43b). From heaven, we received the Holy Torah. In this Parsha, we see an allusion to the Torah with the aid of the codes. The Torah says,ragnv ragn ‘v ,nur, ubnn o,nrvu , you shall set aside a portion to God, a tithe from a tithe. If we take the acronym of the encircled letters it spells vru,, Torah. This teaches us that we must all go the Kohen and give him tithes and then he will teach us the law. God entrusted these people as the law givers as they were the most committed in the days of Moses, as Moses requested, who is for God? The Levites came forward. As a result, they were chosen to minister in God’s temple and to teach people the laws of the Torah. Today, as there is no Holy Temple we must go to our Rabbis, who will teach us the laws of holiness based on our Torah.            

Based on the above interpretation, we even see a reference to the opening of the earth right at the beginning of the Parsha. The Torah says, huk ic ,ve ic rvmh ic jre jehu , “And Korach the son of Yitzhar, son of Kehas son of Levi took”(Numbers 16:1) . Our Rabbis have mentioned that his genealogy ended at Levi since cegh Jacob prayed that his name should not be a part of this conflict. With the aid of the codes, his name is almost found. The encoded letters spells the word ech yabok. It is just one short of the letter g, ayin, which actually means an eye. In this case, the eyes of Korach were not content with what he had . He wanted everything. By trying to take too much as noted to me by Dr. Ari Friedman, he was left with nothing but dust. The opening of the earth must have caused a raising of dust in the desert.  The term yabok is actually mentioned in the Torah (See Genesis 32:23). It is found in the story of Jacob wrestling with an angel.  
In fact, the Torah says rjav ,UUukg sg ung aht ecthu , “and a man wrestled with him (Jacob) until the break of dawn” (Genesis 32:25).  Commentators say the being who wrestled with Jacob was either the angel of Esau (Rashi) or the angel Gabriel (Rabbeinu Bachya). According to Rashi, the above phrase could also mean a man became dusted, since the term ecthu, v’yaveik is similar to ect aveik, meaning dust. It is interesting to note that the word ech yabok’s letters are the same letters that comprise the word  ecthu, v’yaveik. Perhaps the stream of Yabok is named after the incident. In my opinion, the fight was really the conquering of his evil inclination as the numerical difference between cegh , Jacob  and ktrah , Israel is 359  (541-182=359). The number 359 is the Gematria of  iya, Satan. Unfortunately for Korach he was destroyed as his evil inclination overtook him and he became dust. The Gematria of  ech, Yabok is 112. That is the Gematria of
Hashem(God in mercy- 26) Elokim (God in judgment -86). In the news this week (6/26/06), the kidnapping of an Israeli solider, Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit, by Arab terrorists has caused the unity of the nation of Israel to send Israeli forces  to rescue him and to pray on his behalf. This is a unity for a good cause. Korach also unified the people but it was defeated because it was for a bad cause. Let us hope and pray that we always have the strength to overcome our evil inclination so that we always merit God’s mercy and may the captured Israeli soldier safely return home.   

A refuah shlaima to my father , Yaacov Zev Ben Malka Blima who is recovering from stroke at Vanderbilt Nursing Home. 

Shabbat Shalom  ouka ,ca