Spiritual Ill and Wellbeing

A key to understanding the sophistication of Torah as contemporary instruction is to distil principles from events that appear to be light years away from us.

There are three parshas in the book of Bamidbar that relate three incidents of rebellion of the Jewish people in the desert, Shlach, Korach and Balak.

The first deals with the spies sent into Israel to check out the land before they entered. They came back with a terrifying report and the people, instead of heeding Moshe Rabeinu and the two good spies, accepted the negative reports, cried all night and the day (Tisha B’Av) became a day of tragedy for the Jewish People to this day (see Unity in 2)

The second is the story of Korach who sought to challenge Moshe’s leadership and appointments of Aharon and other leaders. Moshe set them a challenge and they were swallowed by the earth.

Finally the incident of Zimri who sought to publically challenge the foundations of Torah by having relations with a non-Jewish woman in public resulting in his execution by Pinchas Ben Elazar Ben Aharon Hakohen.

On further analysis, these three incidents represent the three primary areas of spiritual endeavour in this world: (see Ethical, Ritual, Moral)

1. Bein adam lemakom – between man and God

2. Bein adam lechavero – between man and his fellow

3. Bein adam leatzmo – between man and self

The mishna in Pirkei Avos (4:28) says: Rebbi Elazar Hakafar omer: hakina vehataaveh vehakavod motziin es haadam min haolam – jealousy, physical desire and honour take a person out of the world.

The spies were leaders in the desert but knew that they would lose their position on entering Israel. This tainted their views and they found bad in all they saw about the land. This was a case of personal honour and a shortcoming in bein adam lemakom – trust in and deference to, Hashem.

Korach started off vying for leadership of the tribe of Levi and eventually challenging for the position of Kohen gadol. He was overcome with jealousy at the appointment of others over himself. This was a shortcoming in bein adam lechaveiro.

Zimri was tainted by his own sexual desires through which he purported to be making a social statement. This was a shortcoming in bein adam leatzmo.

So these three events, rather than being random historical facts, were chosen to illustrate, through a most effective education medium, actual events, the importance of the three primary facets of life, in which the Torah directs us.

Furthermore the Torah provides, at the end of each parsha, the antidote for each spiritual ailment.

• Shlach: korbanos, offerings to Hashem - a tool for humbling and dedicating oneself to Hashem.

• Korach: the laws of gifts to the kohanim - an assertion of the rights of others over self - counteracting jealousy.

• Balak: The antidote to following one’s desires to the extreme - to eradicate the desire.

So we see three Torah events that, whilst on the surfaces appearing to have little to do with contemporary life, are actually prime lessons in spiritual health and perfection.