24 Jun KORACH: PUNISHMENTS FOR MACHLOKES

The Shlah (Korach,
Derech Chaim
Tochachas Mussar,
26) writes, “From
the story of Korach’s
dispute, we learn mussar
to avoid machlokes.
Think about the severe
punishment that came
to Korach… Dasan
and Aviram also died,
together with their
infants, although the
court in heaven doesn’t
punish people below
twenty (Shabbos 89:).
But this time, even children perished. Such
is the severity of machlokes (Tanchuma,
Korach 3). Let us learn from this always to
embrace peace.”
The Rambam (in a letter) writes, “Don’t
contaminate your souls with machlokes that
destroy the body, neshamah, and wealth.
I saw families perish, cities destroyed,
communities dispersed, chassidim lost,
honored people disgraced, all due to
machlokes. The nevi’im told prophecies,
and scholars spoke wisdom regarding the
severity of machlokes, but even they haven’t
fully described just how bad it is. Therefore,

hate it, run away from it, and keep away from
all those who love machlokes, lest you be
punished with them.”
Reb Chaim Palagi zt’l writes, “I have seen
several instances where any man or woman,
family, country, or city involved in a
machlokes, both sides didn’t come out clean.
They were smitten on their bodies, and with
their money, rachmanah litzlan. Someone
who has wisdom will think about this and be
mevater.”
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 7.) says that one is
punished with one hundred punishments for
making machlokes. This is learned from the
pasuk (Mishlei 17:4) Poter Mayim Reishis
Madon, which discusses the severity of
machlokes, and madon is gematriya one
hundred. Furthermore, madon implies meah
dinei, a hundred punishments, r’l (see Rashi).
Before World War Two, there was a massive
machlokes between two Chasidic courts
in a Romanian city. Each kehillah had its
shochet, and each community claimed that
the meat of the other shochet was treif. A
bitter machlokes broke out, lasting for two
years, until the Nazis came, r’l, and the city
was destroyed.
A righteous Jew, Reb Yitzchak Wertzberger
zt’l, lived in this city but refused to participate

in the machlokes. He ate from both shechitos
because both shochtim were yirei Hashem.
He told himself he would leave the town the
day he became involved in the machlokes.
One day, someone asked Reb Yitzchak,
“Why doesn’t your rebbe speak up in favor
of our shochet?”
Reb Yitzchak replied, “It is because of
machlokes that all the troubles began, and
you want my rebbe to have a part in this?”
(He was referring to the troubles of the
Holocaust – attributing it to machlokes.)
Suddenly, Reb Yitzchak put his hands to
his head and shouted, “Oy. What did I just
do? I just spoke about the machlokes!” He
came home and told his wife that they must
leave immediately. “We can’t stay in this city
anymore.”
It was Thursday – not an easy day to pick up
and leave. But she was a loyal wife and they
packed up and left the city that day. They
moved to Arad, Romania.
This move saved their lives. Soon
afterward, the Germans entered the city
where the machlokes reigned, and almost
no one survived. Today, Reb Yitzchak has
grandchildren who are erlicher Yidden, some
of them poskim and magidei shiur. They all
owe a debt of gratitude to Reb Yitzchak,

who fled from the machlokes and saved their
lives.
In Shechetz, Poland, there were two
shochtim, and it was debated who was
the main shochet, and this resulted in a
machlokes. The Pilitzer Rav zt’l (author of
Sifsei Tzaddik) wrote to one of the shochtim,
“Machlokes is fire, and one must run
away from fire. Pick yourself up and leave
Shechetz immediately.” Unfortunately, the
shochet never received the letter. The letter
came into the hands of someone who wanted
him to remain the shochet in Shechetz, and
he didn’t deliver the letter. The shochet
was niftar shortly afterward. The fire of the
machlokes consumed him. The family never
forgave the person who withheld the letter.