Studying the Korach Story

In the Torah Portion for this week Korach and his collaborators attack Moses and Aaron. Korach, a Levite, like Moses and Aaron, criticizes the brothers for elevating themselves into positions of leadership. Korach says, “You have gone too far! For all the community is holy and the God is in their midst. Why do you raise yourself above the God’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3)

Korach wants to take the place of Moses. Korach is fine with the idea of a single Levite leading the people. He just wants it to be a different single Levite, himself.

Korach does not understand the source of Moses and Aaron’s status. Why should the people listen to Moses? Why should the people trust Moses? The answer, of course, is God.

Over the centuries many political leaders have claimed that their authority to rule comes from God. They argue that God made them King, therefore the people should listen to them.

In a democracy the trust that comes with political office is easily lost. We can all easily mention too many examples. So many politicians have acted so poorly that many people distrust politicians as a category.

Trust has to be earned. I am not pleased when people say, “Trust me.” Don’t say, “Trust me.”  Show me I can trust you. Actual trust worthy people do not have to say, “Trust me.” People who have earned the trust that comes with their position, do not have to remind people of the position they hold.

During his political decline, Richard Nixon declared, “I am the President.” His need to make that proclamation illustrated that in fact he had lost the trust of the American public.

A parent should not have to say, “I am your father” or “I am your mother.”

When the faculty of the Hebrew Union College gave me the title rabbi they were in essence saying, “We trust you.” When people call me rabbi they express their trust in me. I am aware that I have to be worthy of the title every day.

Father’s Day was a few days ago. The information that I am the father of three, is a biological fact. The trust my children place in me has been earned.

Sometimes those who we thought were our friends disappoint us. We discover that our trust was misplaced. Or sometimes we disappoint our friends and must work to again earn their trust

Moses had an advantage we do not have. God could vouch for Moses. We have to let our deeds vouch for us.

Report on AIPAC Conference May 2011

Dear Friends,

A few days ago I returned from the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington.  The media has been filled with reports and interpretations of what has been said about Israel by American leaders. Pundits make their living by generating heat. I am more interested in light. I want to look clearly at exactly what has been said.  Then I want to draw your attention to the genuine key issues.

AIPAC is dedicated to promoting the America/Israel relationship. At AIPAC we heard speeches from a broad range of American political leaders, including President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer. I also participated in lobbying meetings with Illinois Senator Mark Kirk and Sixth District Congressman Peter Roskam. In addition, I had individual conversations with senators ranging from Minnesota’s Al Franken on the political left to Texas’ John Cornyn on the right.

I am happy to report that all of the above American political leaders expressed complete devotion to the America/Israel relationship. American support for Israel is bipartisan.

Much has been made about President Obama’s reference to the pre-1967 borders in his May 19^th speech at the State Department. The full phrase was “1967 lines with land swaps.” Identical language has been used by American leaders since the Israel/ Palestinian peace process began with the Oslo Accords in 1993. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used this phrase at AIPAC in March 2010. President George W. Bush used this phrase, as did President Bill Clinton.

In his speech at AIPAC on Sunday morning, President Obama went into detail about the meaning of “agreed upon land swaps.” He said:

“….since my position has been misrepresented several times, let me reaffirm what ‘1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps’ means. By definition, it means that the parties themselves, Israelis and Palestinians, will negotiate a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967.

That's what mutually agreed upon swaps means. It is a well-known formula to all who have worked on this issue for a generation. It allows the parties themselves to account for the changes that have taken place over the last 44 years. It allows the parties themselves to take account of those changes, including the new demographic realities on the ground and the needs of both sides.

The ultimate goal is two states for two people: Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people, and the state of Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people, each state enjoying self-determination, mutual recognition and peace.”

President George W. Bush in January of 2008 said the following during a visit to Israel:  “Achieving an agreement will require painful political concessions by both sides. While territory is an issue for both parties to decide, I believe that any peace agreement between them will require mutually agreed adjustments to the armistice lines of 1949 to reflect current realities and to ensure that the Palestinian state is viable and contiguous.”

In 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “We believe that through good-faith negotiations, the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines with agreed swaps.” She repeated those words to AIPAC in March 2010.

President Obama’s use of that phrase is, in truth, nothing new.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the AIPAC Conference on Monday evening and to a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday morning. I would urge you to watch a video of his address to Congress. It is a strong and clear presentation of his position which he delivers artfully. You will notice that three times he expresses his ideas by quoting President Obama. He does this to indicate the closeness of his positions to President Obama’s.

Other members of the Etz Chaim family participating in the AIPAC conference included Larry and Barbara Margolis, Jacob and Asher Margulies, Samantha Margolis, Ron and Bruce Weininger and Dan Krauss.

Next year’s AIPAC conference will be March 4-6^th

We hope that more of our members will be able to join us for this exceptional event.

President Obama at AIPAC

Menu of videos of speeches at AIPAC

Video of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress

Transcript of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress

Transcript of Chris Matthews Show