Datan and Aviram

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  1. The Incense Challenge

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 30 minutes

    The rebellion of Korach, Datan, Aviram, and the 250 men offering incense is complex, with multiple agendas. The holiness incense “test” suggested by Moshe is perplexing, especially in light of the Nadav and Avihu story. Was it a death threat? If so, would it not have been an obvious one? Why did the men agree to it?

  2. Moshe vs. the Rebels: A Challenge on Two Fronts

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

     Parshat Korach combines two stories that are unrelated to each other: the complaints of Korach on one hand, and the complaints of Datan and Aviram on the other. Are these really two different stories, or just one story occurring in two places? This article deals with this question and with other difficulties through content and other literary devices. 

  3. Where Korach was Right, and Where He Was Dead Wrong

    Avidan Freedman

  4. Datan and Aviram

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

    This article deals with Datan and Aviram's reaction to Moshe's messengers who came to call for them. We can gain a deeper understanding of their response by dividing it into two sections, and can better discern when the events in the parsha took place. 

  5. What Happened to Korah?

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

    What happened to Korach, and where was he during the deaths of the rebelling factions at the end of his saga? Was he swallowed up with his followers, or was he burnt with the givers of incense - or neither?

    Who was Korach? His tragic flaw was that he connected two very groups - one that could have been legitimate, with another (led by Datan and Aviram) whose purpose was evil. A sad situation comes about when people associate  with evil organizations - it makes others wonder if they are essentially similar.

  6. Korach: The Fine Line in Challenging Leaders

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 12 minutes

    The different groups that confront Moshe in Parashat Korach have different motivations, agendas, and intentions. When we look deeply, we find that Korach's group, who sought to offer incense, seems to have had good intentions. Their argument  was "le-shem Shamayim"- for the sake of Heaven, but they were not careful and made a very severe mistake. On the other hand, the other group that Korach aligned himself with, that of Datan and Aviram, had wicked intentions. They just wanted to complain. Theirs was a straight confrontation with Moshe and God, and it was not for the sake of Heaven.

     Though some disputes with leaders may be legitimate,  we must  carefully consider that sometimes, when we are taking issue with our leaders, we are actually taking issue with God. We are responsible for thinking things through to prevent serious mistakes.

     

     

  7. Datan and Aviram and the Eyes of the People

    Rabbi David Silverberg