• This Week's Torah Portion

Since the invention of television, our society has focused on the wealthy and famous. We eagerly watch their appearances on talk shows and read feature articles about them in magazines. We obsess over social media influencers with podcasts and endorsement deals, admiring the daily reels that trumpet their success. Social media is designed to make you envious, but you may also feel sad, angry, or irritated – maybe even all at the same time. Even when we know it’s manufactured for our consumption, it’s hard to ignore. Every posted pic might have 100 takes behind it, hours spent finding the best angle, just to catch your attention. It works, even when we don’t want it to. We all fall into the trap of wanting more than we have. This week’s portion demonstrates that this is not a new problem. The namesake of this week’s portion, Korach, is a troublemaker. Moses has barely led the people past the crisis of faith incited by the scouts when Korach, along with 250 community leaders, rises up in rebellion against Moses and Aaron’s leadership. “You have gone too far!” Korach says to Moses (Numbers 16:3). He claims that Moses and Aaron have “raised [themselves] above the Eternal’s congregation” and that every Israelite should be considered of equal holiness (Numbers 16:4). He doesn’t specify any demands; he just rails against the current regime. In fact, after this one diatribe decrying Moses’s supposed arrogance, Korach won’t speak again. His argument against Moses is all the more difficult to understand because Korach is already among the Israelite elite. He’s a Levite, meaning he works in the mishkan – the tabernacle, God’s traveling abode in the desert. He’s a step down from Aaron and his family, the high priests, but he’s hardly a nobody. Either Korach is an altruist fighting on behalf of the average Israelite, or he’s a grifter, trying to climb to the top of the social and spiritual hierarchy and willing to do whatever it takes to get there. The plain reading of the text clearly shows that Korach is no hero. In a miraculous punishment, Korach is swallowed whole by the earth, along with his household and possessions (Numbers 16:32). We can safely assume God didn’t find much merit in Korach’s rebellion. I’ve met Korach, or at least I’ve met his ilk. If Korach were alive today, he’d be driving a sports car that’s too expensive for his budget and too flashy for his neighborhood. He’d be the kind of guy you look at and think, “That guy is having a serious midlife crisis.” As we’ve seen in countless TV shows and movies – not to mention in real life – one classic version of the midlife crisis is awakening to the realization that you are never going to be famous. Let’s face it: most of us are never going to be famous. Knowing that fact intellectually and accepting it emotionally are very different things. Many people chase fame and fortune, sometimes to their benefit, but usually to their detriment. Fame is a hollow foundation to stand on precisely because it can be taken away at any time. If your self-worth is determined by what others think of you, then they control your feelings of satisfaction and happiness and therefore control you. Korach and Moses could scarcely be more different in their approach to status. Moses didn’t ask for fame; God appointed him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He didn’t even want the job. Standing before the burning bush, Moses comes up with excuse after excuse for why the honor and burden of leadership should go to someone else. Throughout the Torah, Moses remains steadfast, guiding the people towards the Promised Land, persevering through battles, crises of faith, and rebellion. He doesn’t give up, though once in a while he threatens to, and he doesn’t concede defeat. He rises to the moment as best he can. For Korach, his honored role as a Levite isn’t enough. He wants more power and foments rebellion to get it. Korach’s tale shows us what happens when we focus on fame. Just as the Earth swallows Korach’s rebellion, social media swallows us up, consuming as much of our attention and energy as we allow. Instagram, Facebook, X, Blue Sky, and Threads have all been designed to get us to chase likes, comments, and followers; to check and recheck our accounts for new notifications. It’s not that the platforms are inherently “evil,” but they encourage us to focus on attention rather than personal growth; on creating content, rather than developing creativity; and comparing ourselves to others, rather than celebrating our own uniqueness. You may never be famous. You may never drive a Lamborghini or walk the red carpet. What will you do with that knowledge? You can follow Korach’s path, obsessing over status and prioritizing power, stirring up trouble to get what you want. Or you can follow Moses’s model, thoughtfully doing the work that you’ve been given, taking responsibility for those around you, and striving to make the world better for yourself, your family, and your community. Our tradition calls us to care for the poor, the stranger, the ill, and the lonely, regardless of our status or theirs. Just like he’s done all along, Moses shows us the way.