23 Jun I’M ALLERGIC TO MACHLOKES

In Pirkei Avos, Ben
Zoma gives the famous
definition, “Eizehu
chacham? Halomeid
mikol adam – Who is
wise? He who can learn
from every person.” This
immediately begs the
question: What can we learn from the rasha,
the wicked person? The most accepted answer
is, “We can learn what not to do!” This is very
apparent in the story of Korach.
Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l, zy”a, asks a
powerful question. Rav Miller reminds us
that Rashi says Korach was a pikei’ach, a
very intelligent person. He was chosen by his
peers to have the highest position that a person
in Shevet Levi can have: He was the bearer of
the holy Aron, the Ark that was housed in the
Holy of Holies.
To tell you how great Korach was, let me
share with you a story of the great Yismach
Moshe zt”l, zy”a. He revealed to his disciples
that he was currently in his third visit to
earth. In his first gilgul, incarnation, he
lived during the time of the desert. They
asked him if he was around at the time of the
argument of Korach. When he replied that
he was, they then asked him whose side he

took. He answered that he remained neutral.
In shock, they incredulously asked him how
he didn’t instinctively take the side of Moshe
Rabbeinu. He responded to them that they
were only asking this question because they
didn’t actually know Korach, that they did not
witness firsthand Korach’s greatness.
Persists Rav Miller, if Korach was so great
yet he nevertheless succumbed to the Yeitzer
Hara, the Evil Inclination of machlokes, of
fighting, what chance do we have? Rav Miller
answers with a flourish, “We have parshas
Korach!” In other words, we have a lifetime
to study Korach, learn from his mistakes, and
condition ourselves in what to avoid.
Chazal teaches us that the human court
punishes at the age of thirteen. The Heavenly
Court punishes at age twenty. But, for the sin
of machlokes, even babies die. The very word
machlokes is an anagram of cheilek maves, a
portion of death. Chazal teach us, “Machlokes
achas doche mei’ah parnasos – One fight can
cost a hundred people their livelihoods.”
The Shevet Mussar says that on the day
that Korach revolted against Moshe and
Aharon, the mon didn’t fall. The day that we
worshiped the eigel, there was mon. During
the tragedy of the meraglim, the spies, that
caused the whole generation to die in desert,

there was mon. But, on the day of the
machlokes of Korach, there was none. This
is because substance comes from Heaven, and
Heaven is a place of peace. As it says, “Oseh
shalom bimromav,” [Hashem] makes peace in
the Heavens. When there is machlokes, the
Heavens don’t share beneficence with people.
Thus, the posuk says, “Hasam gevuleich
shalom, cheilev chitim yasbi’eich – When
there is peace within our borders, then the
cream of wheat will satisfy us.”
During the Ten Days of Repentance, we add in
our Shemone Esrei the request that we should
be written in the Sefer of Parnasah Tova, in
the bracha of Sim Shalom, to grant peace.
Rav Elya Svei, zt”l, zy”a, explains that the
request for parnasah is inserted there because
only where there is peace can we expect
Heavenly assistance with our livelihoods. We
see therefore how important it is to ensure
that we stay far away from fighting with our
spouse, our siblings, our neighbors, and our
co-workers.
Rav Miller asks another profound question. If
we learn from Korach that the earth swallows
up baalei machlokes, fighters, how come
we don’t read about sinkholes happening in
many places? For, sadly we know that there
is constant feuding in many homes and shuls.
Rav Miller gives a frightening answer. He
says that the ground does indeed open up,
and many times people go to early graves
because they got drawn in to a needless
fight.
When my children were young, I told
them that some people are allergic to bees
and must be very careful around them.
Other people are seriously allergic to nuts
and must always be alert concerning the
contents of any food item. I repeatedly
taught my children, over and over again,
that they are allergic to machlokes and
inculcated them with the importance of
avoiding fighting of any kind. Later in
life, when they were approached to join in
various kinds of revolutions, they always
demurred, saying that their parents taught
them never to get involved. This advice
can save one’s life and the lives of their
children.
We must know that machlokes is evil
incarnate. On every day of Creation,
Hashem remarked that what He made was
good except on the second day of Creation.
Rashi explains that on the second day, He
divided the upper waters and the lower
waters, making the firmament, and division
is no good. Another reason why it doesn’t
say good on the second day is because
Gehinnom, hell, was created on the
second day of Creation. The two reasons
are connected, and this is the reason that
Korach was swallowed down to hell,

because that is the destination of people who
engage in feuding.
The Medrash tells us that it is better to put an
idol in the Beis HaMikdash than to fight with
another Jew. It also teaches that a shul fraught
with machlokes will end up being sold to be
used as a church. My Rebbe, HaRav Moshe
Feinstein, zt”l, zy”a , used to say that as bad
as the situation might be, fighting will only
make it worse. The Yeitzer Hara will tell you,
“This time is different: that it’s a machlokes
l’sheim Shamayim, for the sake of Heaven.”
That’s for sure what Korach thought. Before
swallowing the poison, make sure you ask a
true Gadol, a great man, before you join in
any kind of fighting.
(I’d like to share with my dear readers that
my wife, Mrs. Shoshy Weiss, LCSW-R, is,
b’ezras Hashem, giving a six-week zoom
course starting July 7, 2026, on “IFS for

Women.” You are invited to listen to a pre-
recorded message at 732.661.8280 explaining

the course. To register or find out more,
please call or text 845.270.3699, or check out
her website at shoshyweissifstherapist.com.)
In the merit of our avoiding machlokes
like the plague, more even than Ebola, may
Hashem bless us with long life, good health,
and everything wonderful.