A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Korach

Personal Responsibility

Parshas Korach is famous for its tale of strife, conflict and ambition as the leadership of Klal Yisrael is called into question by Korach and his minions. Corrupted by jealousy they fatally err in questioning the authority of Moshe and Aharon. They are forever known as baalei machlokes – dangerous fomenters of dissent whose ego and pride literally removed them from this world and the next! Ultimately they find themselves swallowed alive to declare forever Moshe emes v’Toraso emes.

Though the machlokes and downfall of Korach is the primary feature of the parsha there are many other iyunim to be studied. One interesting issue to explore is found in the details of pidyon haben reviewed again as a part of the parsha’s summary of the matnos Kehuna unto which Aharon and the Kohanim are entitled.

The Torah reminds that (18:16) pidyon haben is accomplished through the transfer of five shekalim to the Kohein. This somewhat rare mitzvah is always a delight to behold. Interestingly there is a machlokes Rishonim whether or not one can fulfill the mitzvah of pidyon haben with a shaliach. L’chora it is not a mitzvas haguf. So why, then, are there Rishonim who exclude using an agent for mitzvas pidyon haben. After-all one can even marry using a shaliach. Why is using an agent not a viable option for pidyon haben?

Naturally, there is much “reid” on the subject. However there is a mehalach based on aggadah which is worthwhile exploring and taking a lesson from.

The Medrash Hagadol states that one of the taamim for the mitzvah of Pidyan Haben is that it is to provide a tikkun and a kapporah to Klal Yisrael for mechiras Yosef by his brothers. As such the answer to our quandary is simple. Since forgiveness and atonement are involved, one’s personal engagement is necessary. kaporrah cannot be accomplished by someone else. When one hurts another (even if he thinks he is right as was the case with the brothers) it is he who has to say he is sorry, an emissary is not enough. Moreover, the responsibility for that tikkun is personal.

This vital message is sometime lost in the day to day rigors of life. We tend to treat people as commodities or objects. We can even forget that others have feelings too! This aspect of pidyon haben reminds us to stop and take our actions, responsibilities and other people seriously. It admonishes us to watch what we say and do and be concerned with its long-term impact.

When it comes to our bein adam lachaveiro we must be responsible, sensitive and caring. That responsibility cannot be doled out to a representative it must be personal. 
It is so worth our time!

Related posts:

1. Abraham As A Role Model For Making Choices | A Guest Post
2. Use What You’ve Got | A Guest Post
3. Accountability | A Guest Post
4. Glued to G-d | A Guest Post
5. Moses’s Challenges | A Guest Post

The book of Proverbs has so many great lessons for life. One very well known lesson is that we can learn from so many people, animals and things useful tools for life. The ant provides a great lesson in industriousness. An ant can lift things many times more than its body weight. Ants work hard and don’t rest.

A great message to the lazy person is to look to the ant for inspiration.

Recently, scientists have discovered something else that we can learn from ants.Ants have been recorded performing “helpful acts”. So far, only dolphins, capuchin monkeys and now ants act in this way.

In a sophisticated scenario, ants were able to learn a new skill with an unfamiliar barrier to rescue fellow ants. The ants would not rescue other types of ants or insects. You can read about the whole thing here.

This gives a whole new meaning to learning from the ant. We can also learn how important it is to save each other. How vital it is to feel such a connection that we go to great lengths to rescue one another.

Rescue is not limited to a guy stuck under a huge boulder or a drowning swimmer. Rescue means to be concerned with all parts of another’s life. In America we are taught to mind our own business. This is true to an extent, but when someone needs help or assistance or guidance we need to learn from the ant and provide it.

In U.S. law there is no duty for a bystander to help someone in need. Not criminally and not civilly (there are a few notable exceptions). The ant doesn’t believe in that. The ant goes to great lengths to help it’s trapped liege.

This issue has come up recently in the Orthodox Jewish community. If you know what I am talking about, great. If you don’t that’s fine too.

My point is, we need to learn from the ant. We cannot sit by idly when our brethren are suffering and crying for help. We are responsible to each other and have a duty to act when we see injustice and unnecessary suffering. It is time to pull back the sheet and at the cost of exposing wrong-doers, save and rescue the one’s who need us most.

V’hamayvin, yavin.

Related posts:

1. Can Criminals Change Their Ways? | Introduction to "The Thief"