Parshas Korach

The fifth Perek of Avos deals with numbers- the world was created with ten utterances, ten miracles happened at krias Yam suf and so on. The last few Mishnas of the chapter deal with subjects that apparently are off topic. The 20th Mishna states that any controvery that with a noble purpose- like those of Hillel and Shammai, will in the end endure. But one that is not for a noble purpose- like the argument of Korach, in the end will not endure. What is this Mishna doing in the chapter that deals with the numbers of creation?

The world was created with opposites- dark and light, fire and water, sun and moon etc. The Maharal explains that the reason for this is that we are supposed to be looking at the two opposing forces of nature and through that realize that there is one creater that brings them together to work in harmony. That is why the Mishna regarding machlokes is at the end of the perek that deals with numbers. This teaches that the fact that there are two opinions is a way of the world- just like the ten utterances of creation- and a vital part of Torah study. It is all a way to bring us to believe in Hashem Echod- that only the creator is One. When two people are arguing for the sake of heaven, like Hillel and Shammai, when both opposites are true- 'eylu veylu divrie Elokim chaim', it is that that shows us the Oneness of Hashem. That his Torah is supernatural where two opposite opinions are both true. On the other hand when there is an argument that's for personal gain- like that of Korach, it brings to the forefront that the individual is important and that it is 'I' that makes a difference in the world, that diminishes the kavod of Hashem.

If there is an 'I' in a contoversy it is a clear sign that it intent is personal gain. Hillel and Shammai had no problem getting along peacefully with eachother, even though when you look thru the Mishna they come across as fierce enemies. It all shows that thier arguments did not have a personal agenda, it was pure Torah study. As opposed to Korach (note there is no mention of Moshe in the Mishna) his agenda was why not him, why was he not the one that was chosen. He might of been right that he was ready for the role of leadership in Klal Yisroel but he got caught up in the kovod of it. Just look at the difference between him and Moshe. Moshe spend seven days begging Hashem not to send him, that he was not big enough to lead the holy nation. Korach was the exact opposite he asked why not I? Thus Moshe was able to say "for me and Aron are nothing" we are void of any personal agendas and Korach went down in history as a classic example of machlokas.

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.