Get Involved - Parshat Korach

Very often, the boss will send someone else to do his 'dirty work'. I write this not from a place of looking down on bosses. They need to find efficient ways to get things done.  If a boss were to perform all the tasks at the office, he simply wouldn’t be able to find time to do his own job. Part of the boss's job is to delegate authority to others and assign them various tasks.

So, we find that in this week's parsha, Parshat Korach, Moshe told Aharon, the High Priest, to do the dirty work. There was an outbreak of a plague amongst the people. Moses, concerned with the deadly effects of the plague told Aaron to take care of the plague. Aaron  jumped right into the middle of the people – standing between the dead and the living.1

Seforno immediately notices the difference between this instance and the instance involving Korach where people were told to stand aside. By Korach, where there was a dispute, Moshe and Aharon were told to separate themselves from Korach and his followers. Here, Aharon is instructed by Moshe to place himself physically in the middle of a plague – not the most hospitable of places. Yet to heal, Seforno says, Aharon had to position himself amongst the sufferers.

Rabbi Israel Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, also expressed a similar idea in explaining the juxtaposition of 2 verses in Tehillim 146. King David speaks of acts of loving kindness that God does: "God opens the eyes of the blind, straightens out those who are bent, loves the righteous and watches out for the stranger, the widow and orphan" and more. We notice that smack in the middle of these verses showing Him watching over the unfortunate it says he loves the righteous.2 Is that another act of loving kindness He is performing? god, is appreciating the work of those who place themselves among the needy  The righteous, Rabbi Lau explained, are those who get involved with people at their most difficult and needy times - the widow, orphan, and the bent over are just examples of people in need. the righteous, a,most by definition here, are those who stick themslevesin the middle of it to lend a hand. They are the ones who are truly loved by God.

There are many needy people around. Their needs are wide and varied. They need people willing to roll up their sleeves and get involved. It can be on a personal level or through an organization.

It is not just a nice thing to do. It speaks to who we are as humans. Part of our own search for meaning in life necessarily includes our helping others.3 It is an intrinsic part of our humanity. As the great sage Hillel said, "if I am (only) for myself then who am I?"4

There are even times when I've found myself having a bad day (yes it happens) yet when I had to work with clients my difficulties were no longer in focus and I could have a productive day at work or in volunteering. Being there for others can have positive side effects. That may not be our motivation but it's nice to know that it works out like that.

When we get involved and do for others, we also wind up helping ourselves. That's not why we do things. We get involved because it is the right thing to do. We help even if it means getting dirty.

In memory of my mother, Hentcha Leah bat Yitzchak Lipa, hk"m

Refuah sheleimah for Malka bat Gittel

 

Click here to read another logoParsha article on Parshat Korach (Do You Really Think You Can?)

Notes

  1. Bamidbar 17:13
  2. Tehillim 146:8
  3. This is a basic tenet of the logotherapy school of psychology founded by Dr. Viktor Frankl. Our continued health is directly linked to helping others
  4. Avot 1:8

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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