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The
Kedushat Levi on Korach
Hagaon Rav Levi
Yitzchak of Berditchov zt”l on Parshat Korach
(from Kedushat Levi)
Salt and the Leviim
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The Torah follows the
story of Korach with a number of halakhot relating
to gifts given to the Kohanim and Leviim. G-d calls
His covenant with Aharon to give him teruma and
the other priestly gifts a "Brit Melach Olam," "an
eternal covenant of salt (Bemidbar 18:19)." Rashi
comments that salt is used as an image for a covenant
because it lasts, never decaying or rotting.
The Kedushat Levi notes that this image is purposely
used here. Salt itself is a symbol of one of the
central messages of the Korach episode.
Korach wanted to wipe out the distinction between
Leviim and Kohanim, with all of the Leviim doing
the service previously limited to Aharon and his
sons. G-d's lesson to them and the people of Israel
was that it is important to have two different levels,
Kohanim and Leviim. What is the distinction between
them?
The Kedushat Levi (drawing from mystical sources)
explains that Kohanim are connected with the trait
of chesed, lovingkindness, whereas Leviim are connected
with gevura, restraint, judgement, and might. Korach
wanted unbridled chesed, unchecked by the borders
and discipline of gevura. G-d taught him and the
people of Israel that judgement, borders, and restraint
are essential for the world. Chesed must be mixed
with gevura to form rachamim (the combination of
the two).
Salt is the ideal image for this mix. Salt is the
"fire within the water." It includes within it the
characteristics of both water (chesed) and fire
(gevura and din). After the Korach episode it is
now appropriate to use salt as an image for the
covenant.
[prepared by Eliezer Kwass] |
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