How Parashat Korach is a Lesson in Civil Discourse

Yesterday in the Huffington Post, Billy Binion wrote in an article called "The Case for Civil Discourse": 

If you've tuned into the news at all within the last year, you're aware of at least one thing - the political climate has reached a boiling point. There was the 2016 election, uncharacteristically venomous and unrelenting in its penchant for drama. In May, we saw a congressional candidate body slam a reporter for simply asking a question on health care reform. And most recently, there was the tragic shooting in Alexandria, VA - where a gunman opened fire on the GOP's practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, critically wounding Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La). But the most striking part of the recent press coverage has been the resulting call for unity on both sides of the political aisle, perhaps more emphatic than ever before. 

Binion goes onto explain that while at the annual baseball match, both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Speaker Paul Ryan called for unity, it is an admirable plea but likely a fantasy in the current state of affairs. In this week's Torah portion, Korach rebels against Moshe and Aharon, claiming that they are taking too much leadership for themselves and that the kehunah (priesthood) should not have been given to Aharon. He brings together others on his side, including 250 respected leaders in the community. Things do not end well for Korach and his clan; after a showdown with Moshe and Aharon, G-d causes the earth to open up and swallow them alive, and sends a fire to consume their followers. 

Rashi comments on the first verse of the portion which is difficult to translate. It reads, "Korach the son of Izhar, the son of Kohat, the son of Levi took along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eliav, and On the son of Pelet, descendants of Reuven." (Bamidbar 16:1) What did Korach take? Rashi gives a few explanations from a Midrash. His first explanation is that he took himself to the side, in other words, he separated himself from the community. His second explanation is that he took the leaders of the community with him to his side by using words. It sounds as if Korach was a skilled orator, or perhaps a debater. Or maybe he flattered the leaders of the community, to get them to like him. Whatever words he used, he used them to divide the community. He was so set on being right, that he wanted to continue to debate and divide the community into two camps. 

G-d did not want the community at the time of Moshe to be divided; and it's not a good idea now either. The Jewish community itself is divided today in many ways, and we all have a responsibility for supporting the Jewish value of "achdut" or unity. But we also have a responsibility as Americans living in this country, to be guided by Jewish values in our civil discourse. It is not only that it's wrong to be violent. It's that like Korach, we need to avoid using words that separate and divide, and rather aim to unite. In the article by Binion, he gives a few practical suggestions which I would like to repeat here because I think we should all take them to heart: 

• Step out of your personal echo chamber and reach out to a friend or acquaintance who holds an opposing viewpoint. Have an honest conversation, and try to grasp who they are, where they come from, and why they believe what they believe. Don't just listen to the "other perspective" - actually work to understand it. 
• Seek out a balanced view from news sources across the full political spectrum. Engage the next generation in the discussion and teach them to empathize with each other, especially when they disagree. 
• And finally - search for and share instances of people coming together from opposite ends of the spectrum for the common good. People tend to emulate what they see, so let's actively promote this productive positivity. The recent calls for unity in Washington, D.C. serve as powerful examples. Sometimes I see articles posted on Facebook by friends that celebrate a small initiative that brings together Jews and Muslims in a cooperative venture. Other friends post comments that this is a rare example of cooperation and doesn't really reflect the "reality," or that it's naive to think that these types of programs will help anything. 

As I reflect this week on Korach, I'm inspired to be less cynical, to be more positive, and to celebrate small wins wherever I see them. I hope you will join me in using our Jewish values to make the case for civil discourse in the Jewish community and in the United States at large. Shabbat Shalom.