Korach
Numbers 16:1-18:32
Torah Reading for Week of June 6-12, 2010
Sivan 24-30 5770
“Scarcely had he finished speaking all these words when the ground under
them burst asunder and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them
up with their households, all Korach’s people and all their possessions.”
(17:31-32)
The Torah portion this week is named Korach. It might seem difficult to imagine how a man of stature, seemingly righteous and learned , a Levite and cousin to Moshe and Aaron was able to incite a rebellion and encourage 250 very prominent people, all heads of the Sanhedrin to challenge the leadership abilities of Moses’ and Aaron. And, more importantly challenging G-d's command of Moshe as the ordained leader of the Jewish people.
Rashi comments on the opening words of the parsha, "Korach took - He took himself off to one side."
Korach separated himself. He did not see himself as a part of the community, but rather as a detached, isolated individual, who was basically jealous, envious of Moshe and his position. The opportunity for him to gain control was gradual and Korach began to plant seeds of mutiny in the hearts of the nation. After the sin of the spies which we read about in last weeks parsha ,the Jewish Nation’s morale was at an all time low. The Jewish people were sentenced to stay in the desert for forty more years and theirs was a feeling of hopelessness. Korach took this opportunity to play on their fears and as a result he appealed to many as he blamed and contested the authority of his cousins, Moshe and Aharon.
"You've taken too much power and glory for yourselves, for the entire nation is all holy people and G-d is among them. Why do you raise yourselves up over G-d's people?" (Numbers 16:3).
The sin of Korach was not that he criticized the authority and the policies of Moses and Aaron, but that his declarations were saturated with cynicism, bitterness and jealousy thereby wrecking the fabric of authority in Israel. Korach was envious of Moshe and Aaron as head of the people and challenged G-ds choice for Moses as the leader, and Aaron as the Kohan Gadol. Korach’s story demonstrates the difference between asking questions for the sake of understanding, vs. asking for the sake of tearing down authority and dragging down the unity of the people.
The Mishnah Pirke Avot(5:20) which we are encouraged to read during these long summer months, teaches that an argument (machlokes) made for the sake of heaven will endure, this is because the argument is being presented in order to reach a truthful conclusion. On the other hand an argument that is not for the sake of Heaven negates the very foundation on which our torah is based. Korach’s motives were entirely self serving., and his punishment, as well as his followers and families were having them swallowed up alive by the earth.
Korach's punishment perfectly reflected his sin. Seeing his fellow men only as objects of jealousy or lust or as means of obtaining honor, will in the end swallow others alive to advance his own goals. No wonder then, that the Mishna says,
"Jealousy, lust, and honor, cause the demise of a man in this world.”
Interestingly, there is a story of one of Korachs followers that narrowly escaped being dragged into the ground with the rest of his followers. This story of Ohn ben Pellet is told in the midrash and bears discussion. OHN who was a co-conspirator was not really excited about the rebellion, but had in fact committed himself to the cause without any recourse on how to get out of it. His wife, had a plan she got him drunk the evening before the rebellion; when the men came to get him she quickly got rid of them claiming she was not appropriately covered for them to enter the house. As her husband slept the rebellion went on and as the others were killed and swallowed by the earth OHN survived. The story also mentions the wife of Korach, who was in favor of and encouraged her husband to challenge Moses, thereby ruining her family and household.
"The wise among the women builds her house ..." this refers to Ohn ben Pellet's wife and daughter ... "But the evil woman demolishes it with her own hands" (Mishlei 9:1).
This midrash shows deep insight about human nature, and especially about women. Sometimes woman have insights about people that their husbands do not share. Not to start any arguments with the many men who read my portionofparsha.com, however, "maybe" sometimes our husbands would be better off if they followed the advice G-d once gave to Abraham regarding his wife Sarah, "Listen to her voice." (Genesis 21:12)
Shabbat Shalom,
Miriam
In order to prove to the people that Aaron was the true Kohan Gadol of Israel we learn of the incident whereby G-d commands Moshe to collect a staff from the leaders of each of the tribes and to place them in the Sacred Ark.When examined the next morning it was discovered that the staff of Aaron miraculously blos
somed and produced almonds, while the others remained sterile. The blossoming of Aharon's rod was proof that indeed, he had been divinely chosen.
"It shall be that the man whom I shall choose - his staff will blossom; and I shall cause to subside from upon Me the complaints of the Children of Israel, which they complain against you" (17:20)
Of all the fruits that exist in the world, almonds are the earliest to mature. The interval between the appearance of blossoms on the tree and the time when the nuts have ripened and are ready to eat is the shortest of any variety of fruit. G-d promises that the fruits of our good deeds will be swift in coming. Just like the almond, we will not have to wait a long time to see their results.
Almonds have attracted a lot of attention lately. It is said that people who eat nuts regularly can enjoy a significant reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. Almonds are considered to be the best nut source of Vit. E , a powerful source of energy, as well as a good source of fiber.
It's unclear how and when mandelbrot started being called the "Jewish biscotti." Joan Nathan, in her book Jewish Cooking in America, suggests that the large Jewish population in Italy's Piedmont region may have been responsible for disseminating the recipe to German friends and family.
The term Mandelbrot literally means "almond bread," there have been many variations, some with added, chocolate chips or dried fruit. This is a traditional recipe, which a reader sent in handed down from her grandmother, she also mentioned that her grandmother always served it with steaming glasses of tea.
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teasp. orange zest
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole almonds, toasted, cooled and chopped
¾ cup raisins(optional)
2 teaspoons almond extract
Cinnamon and sugar mixture
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high until thickened and slightly foamy, about 2-3 minutes. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl, and reserve. Add 1 cup sugar, oil and vanilla almond extract and beat until blended, about 1 minute. Add flour and orange zest to eggs, and mix on low speed until incorporated. Add almonds and mix just until incorporated. Dough will be slightly sticky.
Spray two cookie sheets with cooking spray, or lightly grease with oil. Wet hands lightly, and form half of dough into a 10-inch rectangular loaf and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with other half dough. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until loaves are browned and firm, but still slightly soft when pressed.
While still warm, slice each bar on the diagonal. Turn slices on their side and sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Return to oven for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.
Blueberry and Almond cake
Filling:1 (14-ounce) can almond filling2 cups fresh blueberries, washed and stemmed2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.Batter:2 cups all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened(margarine)1 1/4 cups sugar2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup sour cream(tofutti sour dream)Confectioners' sugarHeat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 10-inch Bundt pan with cooking spray. To make the filling, in a medium bowl, combine the almond filling, blueberries and flour, mixing well. Set aside. To make the cake batter, in a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until fluffy. Add the flour mixture alternately with the sour cream, and thoroughly combine. Spoon 1/3 of the batter into the prepared pan and top with half of the blueberry mixture. Repeat with another 1/3 of batter, remaining blueberries and rest of batter. Bake 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before unmolding. Dust cooled cake with confectioners' sugar. Serve with blueberry sauce and sweetened whipped cream, if desired. Sugared Pecans and Almonds
1 lb. pecans and almonds
1 egg white
1 tbsp. water
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
Beat egg white and water slightly. Add nuts. Mix well. Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt. Mix. Add to nuts. Spread on foil covered pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Stir and bake another 15 minutes. Turn oven off.
Candied Almonds
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups almonds
Combine all ingredients in fry pan. Cook on medium until sugar
mixture begins to boil. Continue boiling, stirring constantly and
sugar will granulate again. Continue stirring until it begins to melt.
Pour onto greased cookie sheet or waxed paper; cool.
Honey Almonds
2 cups almonds
1/4 cup honey 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Spread the almonds out on a shallow pan and place in a cold oven. Turn the oven to 350ºF and roast for 12-20 minutes, keeping an eye on them to make sure they do not burn. Stir occasionally until well roasted.
Boil the honey and butter together in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the almonds to the pot. Simmer and stir for 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the almonds onto a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Spread the almonds in a single layer to cool slightly.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon and toss the almonds in it.
Place sugar coated almonds back onto baking sheet and put back in oven under the broiler for a few seconds, watch carefully, just until sugar melts and caramelizes.
With a slotted spoon, transfer the almonds to cool.
Shabbat Shalom!.
Shabbat Shalom!.
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Shabbat Shalom!.
Shabbat Shalom!.
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