Words From Rabbi White

Dear Chevra Shaas/Sheerith Israel,

First of all, you probably wonder why I spell this parasha, named after the villain, “Qorah.” Don’t most people spell it “Korach”? Well, the spelling with the “Q” is the more scientific way to do it, but for the remainder of this paper, let’s spell it the more common way, with a “K.”

****

I am writing on Monday. On Wednesday evening, we shall celebrate, with HaShem’s help, the wedding of my granddaughter Leah White to her “basherter,” Avi Rapoport, from Toronto. [“bashert” is Yiddish for the “destined one.”] I told you last week that there was a little glitch: the groom was stuck in Israel, where he had gone with his parents to celebrate the “aufruf,” the special aliya to the Torah before the wedding. I am pleased to report that he, along with his parents and brother, succeeded in arriving safely in USA.

They had to take a chartered bus to Egypt, then to fly to Milan, Italy, and then to fly to JFK airport in NYC. BH, they arrived safely, a few days before the wedding. From NY, the family drove to Toronto, and returned to NJ for the wedding.

*******

KORACH- A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS [with apologies to Sir Thomas More] The Koznitzer Maggid was an important hasidic leader in Poland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was known that if he were to travel, and be asked to give a lecture, no matter what the parasha of the week, he would always talk about Korach. For Korach is about controversy, and sadly, controversy is always present.

*********

THE HEROINE OF THE PARASHA. Of course, it was Mrs. Own BenPelet. Who was she? She wasn’t mentioned in the parasha itself, but there is a midrash that at first, her husband, Mr. Own, was part of Korach’s group that was rebelling against Moshe. She must have said to him: “du bist meshugge?” [assuming she spoke in Yiddish] “have you lost your mind? Anyone who rebels against Moshe is doomed..” And so, according to the midrash, she gave him much wine to drink, so that he was sleeping and did not participate in the rebellion. The midrash says that when Shlomo said in Mishle, chapter 14, “a wise woman built her house,” he was referring to her.

*******

DID YOU SEE THIS ON INTERNET? Ayatollah and Trump had a phone conversation:

Ayatollah: I had a dream last night. All of New York was in ruins, and Iranian flags were flying everywhere.

Trump: I also had a dream last night. Iran was thriving, full of high-tech, and covered with billboards.

Ayatollah: What did the billboards say?

Trump: I don’t know. They were in Hebrew!

********

This Sunday, 3 Tammuz, our dear friend Irwin Miller observes yahrzeit for his father Joe Miller z”l, who was the long-time president of Chevra Shaas. May the neshama have aliya.

Mariam Mintz and Stanley Goldstein observe for their father Alexander Sender Goldstein, on Tuesday 5 Tammuz. May memories be for a blessing.

*******

Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Menahem White