Parshas Korach

The Mishna in Avos says that ten things were created Friday afternoon bein hashmoshos- one of them being the hole that swallowed Korach. The Maharal explains that Friday afternoon is the bridge between the mundane days of the week and the holy Shabbos. The twelve and a half minutes of bein hashmoshos is part of the six days of creation and thus something had to be created. At the same time it’s part of Shabbos so whatever was created had the spark of Shabbos in it- an added kedusha. The ten things created at that point were all things that are physical but yet have an extra spark of ruchnius- spiritualism. (I.e. Bilam’s donkey was a regular donkey but had a spiritual charge that gave it the power of speech.) That is why we light Shabbos candles at that moment for the candles are the spark that links the days of creation into the world of menucha.
Rabbeinu Yona says that when one is born he gets his neshoma from the heavens and his body comes from the ground. When one is niftar the two parts separate and return to where they came from, the body is buried in the ground while the soul returns to heaven for judgment and eventually back to the heavenly throne where it came from.
May we suggest that under normal circumstances the earth cannot swallow a human soul. The ability for the earth to rise up and be able to swallow a human soul - something purely spiritual, was something that was only able to be created bein hashmoshos on Friday. Just like everything else on the list the ‘mouth of the earth’ that swallowed Korach, was something physical with a touch of spirit added.

Story Time

R' Tzvi Kunstlinger Zatza"l who was a rav in Yerushalayim mid century, lost a few kids during his lifetime. His escape- just like any gadol- was a blatt gemora, he would immerse himself in learning and forget all his worries. One of his sons was nifter at the age of 35, on the operating table. The family didn't know how to break the news to him and decided on a plan. When he was learning they approached him and said that they asked the Belzer Rebbe Zatza”l how to do the operation but the doctors weren't successful. He looked up from his Gemora and said, "silly children you don’t ask a Rebbe how to operate you ask if you should operate” and with that went back to his Gemora.

Take A Deep Look

Rashi says that the blue string on the Tzitzis is to remind one of the sea which is blue, which in turn reminds one of the sky, which is supposed to remind one of the heavenly throne of Hashem. A lot of the meforshim ask, if Tzitzis is supposed to remind us of the throne, why does rashi give us the connection in a roundabout way? What is about Tzitzis that the Torah tells us will help us remember the Mitzvos of Hashem and protect us from the temptations of Olam hazeh?

R’ S. R. Hirsch explains the protection that Tzitzis provides against the temptations of this world, isn’t just magic- but rather a practical suggestion by the Torah. The pleasures of this world stare us in the face. The ‘reward’ of following your heart and eyes are instant, the pleasures of this world offer instant gratification. As opposed to spiritual reward- by nature- is hidden from us, we cannot see or feel it in our life time. It takes deep self introspection to realize that doing what the Torah says is the right thing to do. The only way to fight the temptations that are right in front of us is to really look at the options and see what is it that we are giving up for that quick pleasure. When you look at your Tzitzis what is it that you see? Is it just random strings? That is all you’ll see if you look at it superficially and you’ll then struggle with the ‘taavis’ of the world around you. Rashi is telling us to take a deeper look and see a connection- albeit one that’s not so recognizable, but definitely there- a real and deep lasting connection to Hashem. Tzitzis are blue strings that links you all the way to the heavenly throne and offers a path to rise above the struggles of this world. Just like the Tzitzis the beginning you will feel all tied up and restricted, but you’ll come to the realization that you’re the freest person in the world!

Tzitzis Point to Ponder

Why is it that of all the Mitzvos(that i can think of), only Tzitzis has two different ways to mekaim it- Talis gadol and katan? Why is a talis gadol only worn during Teffilah and- according to many minhogim- only after marriage?

Shevuos

The Mishna in Avos states that the world stands on three pillars, Torah, Avodah and Gemilas Chasodim. On Shavuous- the day that the reason for creation of the world was realized, we have symbolism to all three. Torah is obvious- Shavuous is Yom Matan Torah. Avodah is represented with the Korban Shnei Lechem which was brought on Shavuous- as the Torah calls it "Yom Bekurim". To represent Gemilas Chasodim, we read the Megilah of Ruth which is based on the chassodim of Ruth and Boaz.

Parshas Naso

The last part of the Parsha talks about the chanukas hamishkan and the twelve days that followed. (Interesting to note that that day in history- the First of Nissan- is mentioned in Sefarim Shemos, Vayikra and Bamidbor). The narrative begins with "B'yom kalous Moshe lhokim es hamishkan"- The day Moshe set up the Mishkan. The Medrish compares the Mishkan to the creation of the world and ends off with the comparison of the word ‘kalous’ with the word “Vayichal’ Elokim bayom hashevie” - from the posak that completed the creation of the world. The Alshach explains this with a famous Medrish. The Medrish says that the Seven days prior to the building of the Mishkan, Moshe would set up the Mishkan and dismantle it twice a day- once for the morning Korban Tomid and one for the evening one. What needs understanding is- why did Moshe have to dismantle it every day? Couldn’t he just leave it standing throughout the week? The Alshach explains that the Mishkan couldn’t stand naturally, only through a nes. The Mishkan in its mere physical state could not stand, it needed the Kedusha, the Neshoma from Hashem. That is why the days prior to the inauguration it just couldn’t stand so Moshe had to dismantle it. The same is true with the world at large. Hashem created the world in six days, the state of the world was that of a ‘golam’ until Shabbos came along and gave it its spark, its life- its kedusha and neshoma. The six days of the week would not be able to last if it were not for Shabbos that comes every Seventh day.
This is what the Medrish is comparing, the day of Shabbos when the world was complete- which was the day that gave it the possibility to go on. To the Mishkan the day that it was complete- the First day of Nissin- gave it the power to stand.