16 Jun PARSHA IN PRACTICE: SKILLS FOR BETTER LIVING KORACH – NO STATUS QUO

Another episode of
conflict, I presume?
The parshah may
bear the name of
Korach, but we
cannot overlook the volatile role of Dasan
and Aviram, the troublemakers who
seized every opportunity to disrespect
Moshe and challenge his authority. In
fact, it is possible that they were the true
instigators behind Korach and the entire
rebellion (Ohr HaChaim, Bamidbar
26:9)!
As tensions reached a breaking point,
Moshe made one final attempt to
reconcile with Dasan and Aviram, who
stubbornly refused to even meet with
him (Bamidbar 16:12). Rashi comments
that Moshe’s efforts teach us an important
lesson: ein machzikin b’machlokes.
Simply translated, “machzikin,” from the
root chazak, means “to strengthen.” One
should not intensify or “fan the flames”
of conflict. This is why Moshe exhausted
every avenue to restore peace.
However, the Chasam Sofer offers a

deeper interpretation of the phrase.
In halachic terminology, a chazakah
describes an established status quo. A
person who maintains a chazakah on a
piece of property is presumed to be its
owner until proven otherwise. Similarly,
repeating a behavior several times can
establish a chazakah that this pattern is
now the “new normal.”
Accordingly, ein machzikin b’machlokes
means that one must never allow conflict
itself to become the assumed default. Even
if two parties have been locked in dispute
for years, they should not conclude that
this is simply the permanent reality of the
relationship.
After enduring decades of Dasan and
Aviram’s belligerent and unreasonable
behavior, Moshe could easily have
written them off as a lost cause. As they
once again fueled division and hostility
among the nation, one might have
expected Moshe to move immediately
toward suppressing the rebellion with
force – which he ultimately did. But
instead of relying on past experience and

assuming reconciliation was impossible,
Moshe made one final attempt to open
a dialogue. As Rashi says, from here we
learn ein machzikin b’machlokes – there
is no status quo of conflict.
Moshe did not presume to know how
the conversation would end. Only after
Dasan and Aviram explicitly reaffirmed
their defiance did Moshe ask Hashem to
intervene and “take them down.”
Too often, we create a chazakah on
machlokes. Conflict becomes the
presumed reality, and further attempts
at reconciliation are abandoned before
they even begin. This is how an old
disagreement quietly hardens into a
longstanding feud.
Instead of treating past experience as
conclusive evidence, we can always
give peace another chance. Even if
previous efforts failed, time, distance,
and reflection often soften emotions.
Sometimes, the mere willingness to
reach out can begin dissolving years of
bitterness and resentment.

No one had more reason to feel
pessimistic about reconciliation than
Moshe Rabbeinu in his dealings with
Dasan and Aviram. Yet he modeled that,
regardless of the past, one must always
make an effort to resolve interpersonal
conflict.
If it fails again, at least we can say we tried.
But until then, we must not allow
yesterday’s machlokes to become today’s
status quo.