October 4, 2013

  • Teshuvah: Finding Forgiveness

    Teshuvah: Finding Forgiveness

    By Shlomo Phillips © 06.06.2013

    Parsha Korach tells about the rebellion of Korach, Dathan and Avirim. These men led their people in rebellion against Moshe and Aaron. We wont go into this account here, our interest is in its aftermath.

    HaShem caused the earth to open up and swallow the leaders of the rebellion alive, then to close back, sealing their doom (Numbers 17:1-5). The matter seemed to be over, but it was not.

    The next day a sizable segment of the people came to complain against Moshe and Aaron for the death of their leaders, blaming them for the decision of HaShem, they too rebelled. It was then that the plague broke out.

    Numbers 17:6. The following day, the entire congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord."
    7. It came to pass while the congregation were assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned to the Tent of Meeting, and behold, the cloud had covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.
    8. Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.
    9. The Lord spoke to Moses saying:
    10. Stand aside from this congregation, and I shall consume them in an instant." They fell on their faces.
    11. Moses said to Aaron, "Take the censer and put fire from the altar top into it. Then take it quickly to the congregation and atone for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, and the plague has begun."

    The reason for the plague was the rebellion of Korach and his associates (verse 6) but it was not until the people had rebelled the next day (verse 7) that HaShem sent the plague. As the Gutnick Chumash notes, There is an important lesson to be learned here.

    The people often complained against HaShem during the forty years and afterward, but no plague was sent. Why? What was different?

    The plague was obviously a continuation of HaShem's judgement against Korach. The seeds of his rebellion had continued to bloom and many of the people had willingly been infected by its spores. Even though Korach incited the people to rebel against Moshe (and hence HaShem), it was not until they personally rebelled that judgement was unleashed upon them.

    We are all, by the Will of HaShem, free moral agents. We think, we judge and we have our opinions. Indeed the very word Y'israel means: "He has striven with God!" This is as it should be. Judaism has never advocated cult-like unthinking obedience. According to Torah we were created with the dual nature of yetzer tov and yetzer hara (i.e. the inclinations towards both the positive and the negative). We determine how we will respond to these dual tendencies moment by moment.

    Even if a person is lacking in his/her dedication to Torah observance, even if a person seems to be very far away from God, still, unless that person has actively rebelled against HaShem, as these people did, we can still be sure that they will find grace and compassion with our Parent who alone is the eternal well-wisher of all creation.

    Wherever you may be in your life know that God is but a sincere prayer away. This is the assurance of Likutei Sichos (volume 28, p. 2 and 6) and the entire Torah, Written and Oral.

    As Rebbe Nachman assures us:

    God's greatness is unfathomable: that is why Teshuvah [repentance] has such power. No matter how far you may have fallen - be it to the lowest depths - never despair, because you can always return to God. With just a little effort you can turn even your worst sins into merits. No matter where in the world you fall, you can easily come back to God. This is because of His unfathomable greatness. Nothing is beyond His power. Just never give up! Keep crying out, praying and pleading to God at all times.

        Sichot Haran #3.