parsha bit: Korach

[cellio]

This week's parsha begins by telling us that Korach led a rebellion, together with Datan, Aviram, and On ben Pelet. As the story unfolds, however, On drops out, while we know explicitly that Korach, Datan, and Aviram are punished. What happened to On? In the talmud Rav said that On was saved by his wife: knowing what he planned, she fed him wine until he passed out and then she sat at the entrance to their tent to prevent Korach from entering. (Sanhedrin 109b)

Comments

[jonbaker.livejournal.com]

You're reading Korach? Oh, you must be on the Israel schedule, since Reform only keeps one day of Yom Tov. In this case, we got out of sync because the second day of Shavuot was on Saturday. So while Orthodox and Conservative in Galut will read Shlach this week, Israel and Reform will read Korach. Never thought about it, but it is a logical consequence of the Reform one-day policy.

We'll re-synchronize before Tisha B'av, when everyone reads Devarim. We in Galut will double up Mattot-Mas'ei, so that we all read Devarim before Tisha B'Av.