by Rabbi Dr. Moshe P. Weisblum
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
When I was a teenager, I loved to attend the shi’urim (lessons) by my teacher Rav Auerbach, of blessed memory, in Jerusalem. I vividly remember Rav Auerbach stopping in the middle of a class to ask, “Does everybody understand me?” Then he always added, “Can you please ask me more questions?” We students used to look at one another. A moment of silence. Then Rav Auerbach looked at each of us and said, “Please ask me questions. Please. It makes me so happy.” His warm personality and inquisitiveness gave me, and so many others, a deep love of Judaism.
Jews are taught to question everything, to examine every side of an issue. Children do this naturally, and we should encourage them in finding answers to their questions. But can asking questions go too far? When does questioning cross the line and become rebellion?
This week’s Torah portion is about Moses’s cousin, Korach, head of the tribe of Levi. Despite his wealth and status, Korach was envious of the power and position of Moses and his brother, Aaron. Korach questioned their authority and fomented an uprising against them. Korach’s story demonstrates the difference between asking questions for the sake of understanding, and asking for the sake of tearing down authority and breaking down community.
The Mishnah (Avot 5:20) teaches that controversy “for the sake of Heaven” has a constructive outcome; one that is not for the sake of Heaven is destructive. The Talmudic debates of Hillel and Shammai, about the fine points of Jewish law and practice, are considered disputes for the sake of Heaven. Never personal (the Talmud teaches that their disciples married into each other’s families), their sole purpose was to elucidate Jewish law – to comprehend, explain, and clarify, but not to denounce.
Korach’s disagreement with Moses, however, was about jealousy, ego, oneupmanship – mutiny. “Why,” Korach asked Moses, “do you [and Aaron] raise yourselves above the Lord’s congregation?” He and his followers accused Moses of nepotism for appointing Aaron to be the high priest, and they were punished for their questioning. But was it such a crime to criticize, to question? Perhaps Korach’s sin was not that he condemned Moses’s authority, but that his criticism wasn’t constructive; he offered no alternatives, but simply rejected the authority of Moses and Aaron and led his followers in a mass defection from their leadership.
How did Moses respond? The Torah tells us that “he fell on his face,” a sign of his trademark humility. Realizing the futility of arguing with Korach, Moses calmly advised him to come back the next morning and lay his fire pans of incense before God. It would be left to God to choose which offerings to accept.
The next morning, when the moment of truth arrived, Moses and Aaron begged God not to annihilate the entire Jewish people because of the sins of one man. Shortly thereafter, the ground opened and swallowed up Korach, his followers, and their families. This was God’s response to the rebellious questioning of Korach, whose blinding self-interest prevented him from questioning “for the sake of Heaven” and threatened to drag down the spirit and unity of the Jewish people.
Moses was like a father to the Jewish people; he loved the children of Israel as a father loves his children. He understood that it is the nature of a person – and especially of a Jew – to ask questions. Still, he felt betrayed by the actions of Korach, not because Korach questioned, but because of the way he questioned.
Our ability to ask questions is a gift from God. Like all gifts, it must be used wisely. The children in our lives ask questions as part of their nature, and as part of their purpose. Their questions are an expression of their innate desire to know and understand, and by helping them find answers, our own understanding grows along with theirs.
Questions from a child – even when they have a tone of defiance – come out of their innocence and reflect a sincere desire for knowledge. Our task is to satisfy their thirst for understanding, to encourage their questions in a spirit of joy, and to foster their love of Judaism and Torah through honest conversation and loving relationships. In this way, we can hope to merit that we and our children will question openly, and without rebelliousness.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Born in Sde Ya’akov, Israel, Rabbi Moshe Pinchas Weisblum, PhD is a 14th generation rabbi in his family's dynasty of rabbinical leaders. His great grandfather was the famous Tzadik Rabbi Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk, Poland, one of the great founding Rebbes of the Chasidic movement and author of the brilliant book of commentary on the Torah: Noam Elimelech. His grandfather (from his father's side) was the well known Zidichov Rebbe - Rabbi Ya’akov Yitzchak Weisblum. He is the son of renowned scholar, former Rosh Yeshiva of Sde Ya’akov and the Rabbi of Neve Sha'anan neighborhood in Haifa for over 50 years - Rabbi Chaim Naftali Weisblum, and the grandson (from his mother's side) of the famous Kabbalistic master and author, Rabbi Yehuda Zvi Brandwein.
Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum studied at Yeshivat Torat Emet, Haifa, from 1968 to 1976, at Yeshivat Itri from 1976 to 1978, and was a student at Yeshivat Ohr Etzion from 1978 to 1980.
In early 1981, he volunteered for the elite paratrooper unit in the Israeli Defense Forces. He completed extensive courses and received a medal and commendation at the end of the Israeli-Lebanese War. He finished his military career as a commissioned officer in the army with the rank of Major.
Rabbi Weisblum earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey, and earned a PhD in Philosophy from Baltimore Hebrew University. He also had an aptitude for computer skills, in networking, earning an A+ certification. Further, he was awarded the Sidney Breitbart Prize in Jewish philosophy from Baltimore Hebrew University in 2005.
Rabbi Weisblum was also a consultant to the media, since 1991.He was on a TV interview, channel 12-talk show, cable TV channel 54 –commentator on social and political issues. He was interviewed on the radio many times, regarding political and religious analysis and consulted on Middle Eastern affairs to Washington D.C.
He is a member of the New York Board of Rabbis, New Jersey Board of Rabbis, Union of Traditional Judaism, and Morasha Rabbinic fellowship.
Rabbi Weisblum has published a number of books including "Table Talk Biblical Questions and Answers" and "Ruth Talk", which is loaded with questions and answers on the Book of Ruth. In 2007, his book "The Hermeneutics of Medieval Jewish Thoughts Understanding the Linguistic Codes of Rashi and Nachmanides" was published by the Edwin Mellen Press. A review of this book can be found on the Mellen Press Web site.
Rabbi Weisblum is an accomplished musician as well. His album Heartfelt Melodies is available on Amazon and his popular YouTube channel features close to 3000 videos including Daf Yomi, Torah and Haftarah cantillation, lectures, music videos, and more.
Rabbi Weisblum is blessed with five children and eleven grandchildren and serves as a spiritual leader, lecturer and University Professor.