Korach(Numbers 16-18)

Jealousy

"The way of a bad neighbor is to count a man's income, but not his expenses."
- Midrash, Pesikta Rabbasi 31

The following story appears in the classic 16th century book of Jewish ethics, "The Ways of the Righteous:"

A lustful man and a jealous man met a king. The king said to them, "One of you may make a request which I will fulfill, provided that I give twice as much of the same to your companion."

The jealous man did not want to ask first, because he didn't want his companion to receive twice as much. The lustful man did not want to ask first, because he wanted what belonged to both of them.

The lustful man finally pressed the jealous man to ask. The jealous man asked the king to pluck out one of his eyes, because then his companion would have both eyes plucked out.

KORACH'S REBELLION

In this week's Parsha, we see a terrible dispute amongst the Jewish People. A man named Korach accuses Moses of nepotism, claiming that "you have taken too much for yourself!" (Numbers 16:3) Korach then recruits 250 men and stages a full-fledged rebellion. In the end, the earth opens up and swallows Korach and his cohorts alive.

What was Korach's motive? The Sages say it was jealousy over the fact that a family relative (who Korach deemed lower than himself) was appointed to a high leadership position.

"Jealousy, desire and pride take a man out of the world." (Talmud, Ethics of the Fathers 4:21)

Jealousy is a very dangerous trait, a disease which should be treated like any other serious ailment. Because once the infection takes hold, it can distort your whole view of reality. Jealousy deprives the jealous of the joys of their own acquisitions. In the case of Korach, it caused him to act so irrationally that he destroyed everything he ever worked for, including himself.

THE VALUE OF TROPHIES

What are the things that truly matter in life? Family, health, sense of meaning, purpose and fulfillment. This is what really matters.

Unfortunately, however, much of our striving in life is focused on the material possessions of those around us.

I want to suggest that materialism is actually less important for us, and more important for the impression it gives others. For example, African tribesmen have a far less desire for a Lexus than do you or I. That's because a fancy automobile won't impress the fellow tribesman!

So we see there's no intrinsic value to a fancy car, other than the impression it gives. How sad. If you've ever met someone striving for the largest beer bottle collection in the world, you know just how meaningless it is to use other peoples' goals to define your own.

When we come home at night, settle down in the chair, and are alone in our private thoughts, then all the trophies, all the possessions, all the "things" seem to lose their luster. Without the cheering crowds to praise our achievements, much of what we strive for has little or no value.

Think about it: Could you tolerate a neighbor - who you don't regard as particularly deserving - enjoying a life of luxury? Yet how about a neighbor who has a happier marriage, a closer relationship with his children, and a more meaningful existence? Aren't these the goals we should be truly jealous of?!

WISDOM FROM THE RAMCHAL

We can gain insight into jealousy from the following piece written by Ramchal (18th century Italian rabbi), paraphrased from Chapter 4 of his classic work, "The Path of the Just:"

There are some fools who seek only to lighten their burden. They say, "Why weary ourselves with so much kindness and self-discipline? Shouldn't we be content just to be spared from harsh judgment in the next world? We will not force ourselves to enter all the way into Paradise. If we do not have a large portion there, we will have a small one. It will be enough for us. We will not add to our burdens for the sake of greater spiritual acquisitions."

Ask these people: In this transitory world, could you tolerate the sight of one of your friends being honored, elevated, and ruling over you? Or even more so, if such success was achieved by one of your workers or by one of the paupers who are lowly in your eyes, could you tolerate this without your blood boiling inside? Of course not!

Notice to what extent a person will go to get ahead of all others and to establish his place among the exalted. This is the power of jealousy.

If this motivation exists even when the desired goal is illusive and deceitful, how much more so should we strive for truly meaningful accomplishments! Because even though we may not now recognize the eternal value of more meaningful issues, we will certainly recognize it eventually – much to our grief and shame.

Therefore, the level of tolerance that people adopt (in order to lighten their burden) when a neighbor excels in the area of character development, is nothing but a deceitful persuasion of their desire. Unfortunately, many do not recognize their folly ... until it is no longer in their hands to rebuild what they have destroyed.

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF JEALOUSY

Judaism says there is a time and place for everything. This means that all character traits have a positive and negative aspect - even jealousy. The Sages say we can use the quality of jealousy for things that really count, for things that truly make a difference in our lives.

The Ramchal explains the "positive side" of jealousy.

This is when a person takes note of his neighbor's achievements and appreciates that he, too, can achieve similar heights. This is not a negative jealousy, because it is not based on a desire to deprive one's neighbor. Rather, he learns from those around him what is possible to achieve - and is motivated to elevate himself.

The Talmud (Baba Batra 75a) says by way of analogy: "Everyone is burned by his neighbor's canopy." It is not (negative) jealousy which operates here, but rather the fact that he sees his neighbor has achieved an aspect of spiritual perfection – which he then realizes he too could potentially achieve.

Use your jealous energy not for the envy of those around you, but to attain things that will bring real and lasting joy.

BREAK OUT OF THE JEALOUSY CYCLE

When all are jealous of each other, then people regard the man who is "contented with his lot" as the one who is insane! That is why it is so hard to break away and do what we know is right and to ignore the scornings of others - even though deep down we feel ourselves on a path of fulfillment.

What can give us the strength to go against the tide? Remember - it is so much easier to climb the materialistic ladder than the spiritual one. Easier, but not more fulfilling.

Judaism says the fight for life is the fight for sanity. You will rarely hear people say, "I have enough money." But people say, "I do enough kindness… I've learned enough wisdom ... I've given enough to charity."

That's crazy.

Figure out what kind of person you want to be ... and then make the decision to attain that greatness.

BRAINSTORMING QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Question 1: Of all the acquisitions you've worked for, which ones were really worth it?

Question 2: What do you regret not having done five years ago?

Question 3: Five years from now, what will you regret not having started now?