20 Jun A LITERAL PITFALL

This week, we read in the fourth chapter
of Pirkei Avos an insightful teaching of
Rabbi Elazar HaKappar. “Ha’kinah,
v’hata’avah v’hakavod motzi’in es
ha’adam min haolam, Jealousy, lust and
the pursuit of honor remove a person
from the world.” (Pirkei Avos 4:28).
Strong emotions that can bring a person
to his downfall. Feelings that not only
preclude a person from enjoying life, but
prevent one from interacting normally
with others. A destructive appetite that
can cause one to think irrationally and

make poor, even harmful, self-
destructive decisions. An all-
encompassing state of mind that can

make one physically ill, creating
unnecessary stress and anxiety, even
bringing on an untimely death, literally
being removed from this world. Feelings
so powerful, that they can have spiritual,
emotional and physical consequences.
The above teaching is intertwined with

this week’s parsha, in which we learn of
the downfall of Korach due to his
insatiable envy and desire for honor.
Korach was a first cousin to Moshe and
Aaron. He was a prominent figure, a
member of the tribe of Levi, and was
honored with carrying the Aron, the
Holy Ark. He possessed much wealth,
which gained him status and prestige.
But for Korach, that wasn’t enough. He
was totally consumed with a craving for
power, and feelings of jealousy towards
Moshe and Aaron. He questioned their
leadership… why them and not he?
Korach’s desire for leadership was
wasn’t about his concern for the good of
others, but rather he pined for a position
of glory.
Jealousy. Envy. Greed. Emotions so
detrimental that HaShem included in the
Aseres HaDibros, the Ten
Commandments, “Do not covet”. Not to
be jealous of another’s possessions,
wealth, good fortune or power.
I recently attended a school play of my

7-year old granddaughter, Tehilah.
Following the children’s
performance, I went over to the
teacher to thank her, and
introduced myself – Tehilah’s
bubby.
“I must share a story with you
about Tehilah,” the teacher said. “I
was teaching the class the Aseres
HaDibros. When we got up to the
tenth commandment, not to be
jealous, Tehilah raised her hand.
‘It’s so, so hard’ she said, ‘what should I
do when I go to my friend’s house and
she has so many toys and games that I
don’t have, and I want them too.’ “
Wow, I thought. Tehilah internalized the
lesson. Not only did she connect it to her
life, but she shared her inner thoughts
and feelings with the teacher and her
classmates.
The teacher told me that she threw the
question back to Tehilah, asking her to
come up with an answer.
After contemplating about her
dilemma for a minute or two, Tehilah
had her solution. “I would think of
something nice about my friend, and
give her a compliment. It will help me
be happy for her, so I wouldn’t be
jealous.”
The teacher told me that Tehilah’s
response floored her. Sometimes, we
can take a lesson or two from a 7-year
old.
Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, in
Michtav M’Eliyahu, writes about how
one can avoid the pitfall of jealousy.
He cites the words of Ibn Ezra on the
commandment of not being jealous.
Ibn Ezra acknowledges that envy is a
human emotion, part of our psyche,
that at times takes on a life of its own.
Ibn Ezra explained his thought with a
parable. Imagine a peasant who knows
that the king is in search of the perfect
prince for his daughter. The peasant
would never consider himself worthy
of being chosen by the king, for he
understands that he is part of a different
world. So too, says Ibn Ezra, another’s
belongings should not even be on our
radar. We should view them as part of
a different universe. To make a
conscious effort to really want what
we have.

Korach was a masterful orator and used
his power of speech to spread his
seditious message amongst a larger
group of followers. As he opened his
mouth to express his rebellious feelings,
HaShem performed a miracle with the
earth opening “its mouth” to swallow up
Korach and his cohorts. It was a literal
pitfall, perhaps the greatest sinkhole of
all time. A powerful lesson to absorb.
How careful one must be with both
actions and words.
HaShem doesn’t task us with the
impossible. If there is a commandment
not to harbor feelings of jealousy, it’s
doable. Not always easy, but attainable.
If, instead of looking at what others
have, one looks inward, thinking of what
he can accomplish with his life, and the
good he can do with his G-d-given gifts,
he will be a much happier, healthier
person.
There is, however, an important
exception to the principle of avoiding
jealousy. The Talmud teaches, “kinas
sofrim tarbeh chochmah, the (proper)
envy of scholars, increases knowledge.”
(Bava Basra 21a) Our sages explain that
there is one kind of jealousy that can
have powerful, constructive results,
kinas sofrim, to be envious of a scholar,
for that will ultimately bring one to gain
knowledge. A craving, a desire that can
be channeled positively.
We are HaShem’s am kadosh, a holy
people, designated to be an ohr lagoyim,
a light unto the nations. As we begin the
month of Tamuz, a time when so much
pain befell our people due to unnecessary
machlokes, arguments, divisiveness,
jealousy and ill feelings, let us make an
effort to bring true shalom, unity and
understanding, not only between us and
our families, neighbors and friends, but
to the entire world. To be a true ohr
lagoyim, a light unto the nations.