Attendance at the Israel Day Parade and the Plague that Killed 14700
Adapted from Rabbi Braun’s sermon in 5773
This past Sunday a group from the shul and school marched down 5th avenue in the Israeli Day Parade. It is something that I look forward to doing every year. I certainly enjoying seeing old friends lined up along the route but that is simply a perk. I view the parade as a tangible way to demonstrate our support of the state of Israel to the world, and just as importantly to ourselves!
That is why I was extremely disappointed with the relatively small number of people who attended from our community.
What does it say about our commitment to Israel? What does it say about the place that Israel occupies in our hearts and ideology?
Most of the discussion in Parshat Korach is focused on the complaints of Korach and the incense square off and the ground opening. That is the fascinating and exciting stuff. It is also only half of the parsha.
Immediately following those scenes there is a very important tragic episode that I want to focus on for a few moments.
במדבר פרק יז
ו) וילנו כל עדת בני ישראל ממחרת על משה ועל אהרן לאמר אתם המתם את עם יקוק
ט) וידבר יקוק אל משה לאמר
י) הרמו מתוך העדה הזאת ואכלה אתם כרגע ויפלו על פניהם
יא) ויאמר משה אל אהרן קח את המחתה ותן עליה אש מעל המזבח ושים קטרת והולך מהרה אל העדה וכפר עליהם כי יצא הקצף מלפני יקוק החל הנגף
יב) ויקח אהרן כאשר דבר משה וירץ אל תוך הקהל והנה החל הנגף בעם ויתן את הקטרת ויכפר על העם
יד) ויהיו המתים במגפה ארבעה עשר אלף ושבע מאות מלבד המתים על דבר קרח
Let me highlight a few of the questions that these verses present.
- Why are the people complaining? What is the real reason they are upset?
- The last time God suggested wiping the people out and starting again with Moshe, Moshe argues with God and wins. Here there is no argument on the people’s behalf; he sends Aaron out with the incense to stop the plague. Why the change in tactic? Why does he not argue with God and why does he think this is going to work? If God wants to punish the people, how is this going to help?
- 14,700 people die. That is many more than 250 people or Korach and his family. Why is this so much worse? What did the people do?
I think that the one central idea that is the key to answering all of these questions is – the people still don’t appreciate or recognize that God is involved in their lives and in charge of the direction of the people.
Why did the people complain? What does it mean “you killed the nation of God”?
Rashbam writes that they understood that Datan and Aviram were wrong for challenging Moshe and had to go but the 250 dies because Moshe instructed them to offer the incense! That was Moshe and Aaron’s fault.
The Eben Ezra writes that this test did not prove that God chose the tribe of Levi and Aaron to be the Kohen. Maybe it was thru some kind of wisdom or prayer that you managed to kill the people.
The common denominator in these approaches and in all the others is that the people still don’t get it. The ground opened up at Moshe’s command and fire descended from heaven and took out the 250 but that was not enough. They still did not see and appreciate God’s hand.
I think that also explains why Moshe does not argue with God. There is nothing that he could say. He knows that the people should get it and don’t. What possible argument is there on the people’s behalf?
Why does the incense work?
The Rashbam writes, להודיע שהקטרת הממיתה בשאינם כהנים, היא הנותנת חיים ביד כהנים, לדעת שהן ראוים לעבודה the Ketoret is used to demonstrate to the people that the Ketoret which killed the 250 non kohanim gives life when used by the REAL kohanim – here represented by Aaron. Moshe does this so that they should know that it is the kohanim who are eligible to serve God in the mishkan.
In other words, you stop the plague by rectifying the sin. The people complained because they did not believe that God was making these choices. Despite all of the compelling evidence, they came up with theories to explain God away. You stop the plague by convincing them that the choice of the kohanim is indeed God’s and you do it specifically by having the kohen use the Ketoret to stop God and the plague. Once they understand and accept the plague can stop.
Why do more people die here? Why does this cause the plague while the challenge to leadership does not?
It is possible that the difference is quite simple. The 250 people were before the test. They challenged the veracity of Moshe’s relaying of God’s word. After the test and the miracles the people were now challenging or refusing to accept God’s actions. Two years into the desert that is simply no longer acceptable. There needs to be a positive response to God’s interaction.
I do not mean to compare this episode to not going to the parade but I do see a potential common issue- the lack of appreciation and response to what God has done for the Jewish people.
I felt the same way after the Norpac Mission. Here are tangible things that we can do, and I feel that there is a sense of apathy here.
Many are going to tell me – of course we love Israel and support it. At some level that is true but the true test is – what have you done to show that support? Did you go out of your way? What have you given up or sacrificed for it. If you chose a leisurely Sunday or a golf game, what does that say about your support and commitment?
We could have a discussion about whether the parade is the best way to support Israel and if you thought it through and chose another venue I would respect that but I suspect that most do not think about the parade in those terms.
If we believe that God has performed miracles for us visa vis the modern state of Israel and a return to our homeland than it is our obligation support the state and its people. When the opportunity presents itself show God that you appreciate the divine assistance and act on Israel’s behalf.
