Parashat Korach: The Opportunity to Serve

by Rabbi Noah Gradofsky

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.

Rabbi Noah Gradofsk’s d’var Torah for Korach can be viewed at http://www.e-ark.net/rabbi/korach5777_2017.pdf. Rabbi Gradofsky’s discusses Moshe’s (Moses’s) comment to Korach that, “Is it so insignificant to you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the Israelite community to draw you close to Him to perform the Tabernacle service and to stand before the community to serve them?” (Numbers 16:9).

So, in fact, Moses is not saying to Korach that he has the great honor of being in a position high class and dignity. Instead, Moses, who later in the chapter declares that he had taken no personal gain from his position (Numbers 16:15), is reminding Korach that the true fortune of God’s appointment is not the opportunity for glory, but the opportunity to serve.

Rabbi Gradofsky goes on to explain the implications of this lesson for the Jewish people, who are intended to be “a nation of priests.”

The JPS Torah Commentary on Numbers referenced in Rabbi Gradofsky’s d’var Torah is available from Amazon here.

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See All of Rabbi Noah Gradofsky's Articles

About Rabbi Noah Gradofsky

Ordained by the UTJ’s Institute of Traditional Judaism in 2004, Rabbi Noah Gradofsky has remained a steadfast member, serving for years as a member of the UTJ Executive Board, the board of Morashah - UTJ's rabbinic fellowship - and as chairman of the UTJ conference committee.

Rabbi Gradofsky served as a full-time rabbi at Temple Israel in Long Beach, NY, for 6 years and has since served a number of synagogues on a contract basis. He is also a full-time practicing attorney.

Rabbi Gradofsky is also a moderator of the UTJ Facebook group, and he is a prolific writer on Jewish law and sociological topics affecting the religious Jewish community. Among his essays and writings are:

"Images of God" and "Cultivating our Divine Image” - A series of two sermons and a study sheet based on selections from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s Quest for God, discussing Judaism's approach to divine images including the tselem Elohim (divine image) that inheres in humanity.
"Live Like You Were Dying” - A Yizkor sermon based on the song by Tim McGraw.
D'Var Torah on Parashat Mishpatim on the place of justice and righteousness in halakhah.
“Being a Halachic Jew: Why the Old Labels Just Don't Fit” - A discussion (from Shavuot 2007) of the Jewish denominations and how UTJ's approach distinguishes itself.
Printable Junior Congregation Siddur
“Rabbinic Perspectives on Intellectual Property” - A discussion of Jewish values online regarding halakhic approaches to copyright infringement.
“Jewish Law on Abortion and its Implications for Stem Cell Research”
"Rabbi Schachter's Troubling Tone” - An article in The Jewish Link of New Jersey by Rabbis Ronald Price and Noah Gradofsky on behalf of the Union for Traditional Judaism in reaction to Rabbi Herschel Schachter's responsum about allowing young women to wear tefillin in yeshiva high schools. Rabbi Schachter's teshuvah can be found here in Hebrew and an unofficial translation is here.

To learn more about Rabbi Gradofsky and access any essays not yet included in Viewpoints, go to: www.e-ark.net

Rabbi Gradofsky is married to Dr. Melissa Klapper and lives in the Philadelphia area.