24 Jun PARASHAT KORACH: KORACH & SISIT

Rashi, commenting
to the opening verse
of Parashat Korach,
explains the connection
between this Parasha
and the immediately
preceding section – the final verses of
Parashat Shelah, which introduce the Misva
of Sisit. Korach led a brazen uprising against
Moshe and Aharon, and Rashi writes that
when he and his followers confronted and
challenged Moshe, they appeared before him
wearing Tallitot which were colored entirely
with Techelet (a type of blue dye). The Torah
commands coloring one Sisit string on each
of the four corners of the Tallit with Techelet,
and Korach and his cohorts asked Moshe
whether their Tallitot – which were entirely
colored Techelet – required a Techelet
thread. Moshe responded that Halacha draws
no distinction in this regard, and a Techelet
thread is needed even if the garment is dyed
entirely in Techelet. Korach and his men
then began ridiculing Moshe, arguing that if
a single Techelet thread suffices for a white
garment, then a garment that is entirely
colored Techelet certainly does not require a
Techelet thread.
This account might explain not only the
connection between the end of Parashat
Shelah and Parashat Korah, but also the entire

background to Korach’s grave mistake.
In presenting the Misva of Sisit, the Torah
states, “Ve’lo Taturu Ahareh Lebabchem
Ve’ahareh Enechem” – “so that you shall
not stray after your heart and your eyes”
(Bamidbar 15:39). The purpose of the Misva
of Sisit is to help us avoid “straying.” Notably,
the Torah mentions the heart before the eyes
in this verse – “after your heart and your
eyes.” Intuitively, we would have thought
that the process of “straying” begins with our
eyes, as we see something enticing, which our
hearts then desire. In truth, however, it’s just
the opposite. Our hearts, our thoughts, our
attitudes and our biases, profoundly affect our
perception. Two people can see the same thing
and react in two polar opposite ways, because
each looks through a different lens, from a
different perspective. We wear Sisit so that we
will not be led astray by what our hearts cause
our eyes to see, by how our minds perceive
things. Indeed, the Kabbalists explain that the
word “Sisit” stems from the word that means
“glance” (“Le’hasitz,” as in the verse, “Mesitz
Min Ha’harakim” – Shir Hashirim 2:9),
because this Misva helps us to “see” clearly,
to perceive things the right way, so that we are
not led astray.
One of the most dramatic examples of
somebody being misled by what his heart and

eyes saw is Korach. Rashi (16:7) cites the
Midrash as teaching that Korach’s “eye” led
him astray, to foolishly launch this uprising
against Moshe Rabbenu. He saw through
Ru’ach Ha’kodesh that he would have
descendants who would rise to prominence,
such as the prophet Shemuel. He thus
concluded that he should demand the honor and
prestige of the high priesthood. Remarkably,
and tragically, Korach saw ahead many
generations – but he failed to see the situation
right in front of him, the obvious reality that
G-d had chosen Aharon to serve as Kohen
Gadol. Korach saw what he wanted to see
– that he and his progeny were destined for
greatness, and that he must therefore vie for
the position of Kohen Gadol. His heart led his
eyes to see that he deserved this exalted post
– and he was thus led astray, resulting in his
tragic downfall.
We might explain that since Korach abused the
Misva of Sisit, utilizing it to ridicule Moshe,
he forfeited this Misva’s spiritual benefits. The
Sisit strings are meant to protect us from the
lures of what our hearts and eyes see – but they
did not do this for Korach, because he misused
them as part of his effort to undermine the
authority of Moshe Rabbenu. This resembles
the Gemara’s teaching (Berachot 62b) that
Dovid Ha’melech was punished for cutting
Shaul’s garment (Shemuel I 24:5). Dovid

showed disrespect to a garment, and so later
in life, as an elderly man, he was unable to
warm himself with garments (Melachim I
1:1). As he disrespected a garment, he lost the
benefits that garments normally offer. By the
same token, Korach lost the precious benefits
of the Misva of Sisit the moment he used Sisit
to ridicule Moshe.
In the merit of our observance of this precious
Misva, may we be worthy of being protected
from misperceptions, so we will always see
things clearly and make the right decisions
each day of our lives.