All men are created equal . . .
This Shabbat, in synagogues across the globe, the story of Moses’ cousin, a man named Korach, will be read from the Torah. He was the first person to stage a rebellion against Moses and ultimately lead a mutiny against the greatest Jewish leader of our history.
"The entire community is holy, and G‑d is within them," Korach exclaimed. "Why do you (Moses) raise yourselves over the congregation of G‑d?"
What was at the crux of Korach’s argument? What was it that bothered him to the extent that he felt it his duty to publicly oppose his very own cousin and the great leader of his people - Moses?
Korach was a spiritual man. He saw and perceived the divine spark imbedded within every Jew. He understood that each of us is created in the image of G‑d. Essentially, then, we are all equal. If this is true, Korach argued, why the differentiation? Why are there leaders and followers? Why can’t we all just be equal? “Why do you (Moses) raise yourself over the congregation of G‑d?”
Korach was right. But what he failed to recognize that ‘being equal’ does not mean ‘being the same’.
Once, the great Hassidic leader, Zusia, came to his followers. His eyes were red with tears and his face was pale with fear. "Zusia, what's the matter? You look frightened!" "The other day, I had a vision. In it, I learned the question that the angels will one day ask me about my life."
The followers were puzzled. "Zusia, you are pious. You are scholarly and humble. You have helped so many of us. What question about your life could be so terrifying that you would be frightened to answer it?"
Zusia turned his gaze to heaven. "I have learned that the angels will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Moses, leading your people out of slavery?’. They will not ask me, 'Why weren't you a Joshua, leading your people into the promised land?'"
“But what will they ask you”, his confused students asked. Looking into their eyes he replied, "They will say to me, 'Zusia, why weren't you Zusia?'"
We, the Jewish People collectively, comprise a human body. Every limb, while being equally integral and important, serves a different and distinctive purpose. Each must know his function. The heart is expected to be the best heart it can be while the leg is expected to do its best at being a leg. Yes, there are leaders and there are followers. But they are of both essential and integral parts of the “Jewish Body”.
It is up to us to utilize our unique G‑d-given talents and abilities and be the best ‘Jewish limb’ we can be. In so doing, we strengthen the entire ‘Jewish body’.
Let’s do a mitzvah today!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick