You all know what happened to Korach, right? He ended up swallowed somewhere deep down under. But that’s not the end of the story. Right afterward there’s this strange story where everyone gives in their fancy wooden stick known as a staff, and Hashem says וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֶבְחַר בּוֹ מַטֵּהוּ יִפְרָח – “The staff of the man whom I will choose – will blossom” (Bamidbar 17:20)
This is one of those interesting stories in the Torah we just gloss over. But why did we need a ‘choosing test’? When Korach died everyone knew that Aharon was the winner Kohen Gadol!
Plus, if you do want to make a spectacular Kohen Gadol Winners Trophy Award, then why a blooming staff? Maybe a magical pair of Bigdei Kehuna could’ve come down from heaven straight to Aharon Hakohen?
So here’s the secret. Of course, The Yidden knew that Aharon Hakohen was the winner. But they wondered why? “what’s so special about Aharon HaKohen? Why is he better than the rest?” Said Hashem: Aharon has something that nobody else has. He’s a people lover – he’s Mekarev Yidden! And you have no idea what amazing transformations ימין מקרבת can do. Like the holy Sfas Emes says Aharon was Yemin Mekareves – so even his wooden staff had ברכה ודביקות in it too.
But just so you can visualize it – let me show you. You know there are blooming trees – Ahhh they are full of life, colorful fruits, birds, and buzzing bees. But then there are cut off branches, they are turned into dead staffs – something lifeless that will never grow. Now watch, says Hashem, see with your own eyes what will happen when that dead Staff belongs to an ohev yisrael, suddenly it becomes alive! It becomes full of energy and vitality, and it gives birth to new fruit.
I’m sure you have in your life people who are “staffs” – they hit you, they bother you, they’re dead, they’re just a hard stick. But give them some Aharon HaKohen ימין מקרבת – watch and they’ll bloom too… 🔥
Table Topics
What types of behaviors that people do are your “staffs” that just get under your skin?
How was Aharon HaKohen able to love these people with such despicable actions?
Share a story where someone was able to love a difficult person
Rabbi Shimon Semp, Rosh Yeshiva Talpios inspires through bringing Jewish spiritual concepts, with Chassidic Torah teachings down to earth. Collecting anecdotes, sayings, and Divrei Torah from Chabad, Breslav, and other Hasidic masters and Rebbes. Listen and get inspired.
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