Rabbi Howard Morrison

On Shabbat afternoon/evening, we began to read Parshat Korach. At the same time, we were learning that the United States had successfully bombed three major nuclear sites in Iran after Israel had begun the process of attacking nuclear sites over a week ago.

Parshat Korach begins with the immense hatred of Korach and two hundred and fifty followers directed against Moses and Aaron. Moses' first instinct is to negotiate for peace and avoid physical confrontation. Even when Moses himself offers to approach his adversaries and negotiate directly, he is rejected by Korach and his cohorts. Once the effort for dialogue has failed, there is no recourse other than divine punishment. With pointed precision, the earth opens up and swallows up Korach and his followers only. We learn elsewhere that the innocent children of Korach survived the opening of the earth and became the progenitors of Levitical singing in the Temple.

On Saturday night, Middle Eastern time, after Iran rejected all attempts to negotiate for peace,  the earth opened up miraculously at three different nuclear sites in Iran. Over the past week, Israel's efforts were directed at only nuclear sites and the creators of evil. Innocent civilians were never targeted. Contrast that with a week of Iranian bombardment against civilian Israeli population centers, including a hospital.

In the Biblical narrative, once the threat of Korach is removed, peace resides among the people of Israel. We pray now for a new and lasting peace for Israel and the world. May the remaining hostages in Gaza be returned home. We are grateful for the courage and bravery of Israel and the United States in fulfilling the Psalmist's words, "Bakesh Shalom V'Rodfaihu - Seek peace and pursue it."

Sincerely,
Rabbi Howard Morrison