Delivered June 2015

Korach, Dathan and Abiram, and 250 of the community, combined to oppose the authority of Moses and Aaron, saying to them: “You have gone too far! What right have you to set yourselves over the Lord’s people?”

Upon hearing this, Moses said to Korach and his followers:” Listen to me, you Levites! It is not enough that God singled you out to do service in the sanctuary and to minister to the congregation, that you want to be priests as well? It is against the Lord that you are gathered. What has Aaron done that you should grumble against him?”

Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, but they refused to come, saying: “We will not come up! Are you not satisfied with having us here from a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? Must you also play the prince over us? You have not brought us to a land abounding in milk and honey, nor have you put us in possession of fields and vineyards. Are you trying to blind the eyes of these men? No, we will not come up!”

Moses, followed by the elders of Israel, went to Dathan and Abiram. Then he warned the people saying: ” Keep away from the tents of these wicked men and do not touch anything that is theirs; otherwise you will be swept away, because of their sins.”

As Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorways of their tents, with their wives and sons and little ones, Moses said to the people:” This is how you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all that I have done: If these men die an ordinary death, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go “down alive into the pit, then you will know that these men have defied the Lord.”

He no sooner had finished speaking that the ground beneath them split open and swallowed them up, with their families and all the the men that belonged to Korach, and all their possessions. They went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the community. All the Israelites around fled, fearing lest the earth might swallow them up also.

Previously in verses 20-22, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Stand back from this community that I may annihilate them in an instant!” But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, Source of the breath of all flesh! When one man sins, will You be wrathful with the whole community?”

Again Moses had to intercede in their behalf and apologize to God . This is coming to be a recurring theme: people complain and turn away from God. God threatens to destroy the people, Moses goes to the Almighty in behalf of the people to save them., albeit unable to save Korach and his rebellious lot.

Back in Exodus God was displeased with Aaron’s rebellion in Moses’ absence. While Moses was away, Aaron fabricated the Golden Calf. God interrupted Moses’ sojourn on Mount Sinai to send him down to berate the Chosen People, on his behalf. In fact, God was so angry, his first inclination simply was to be left alone so his “wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them.” He probably would have done so, but for Moses’ heroic intervention. At Exodus 32:9, God famously states: “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.”

In Exodus 33:3, God is describing the people again as stiff-necked. God is saying to Moses how he will drive out the Canaanites, and a half dozen other miscellaneous tribes, from the land of Israel. “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you in the way, for you are a stiff-necked people,” In 34:9, Moses apologizes to God saying, “If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thy inheritance.” God or Moses are probably wondering what part of “Thou shalt not” don’t the people understand?

So I’m going to address us as being a stiff-necked people. Significantly, having a stiff neck is the only description of the nature of the Jewish People found in the Torah. We also know one other thing about our physical characteristics, that is, God wanted for the males to be circumcised. So, I suppose one way to identify a Jew back then would have been to look around for circumcised males with stiff necks.

Many commentators believe “stiff-necked” refers to more of a character trait, or personality characteristic, such as being argumentative, opinionated, stubborn, aggressive, internally combative, and divisive. While this has negative connotations, I believe it also can be seen in a positive light. For example, it might promote the development of a distinct self-image, and creating in us the “survival” desire/gene. Not all other peoples have this same self image. After all this is 5775 in the Jewish calendar, so we’ve been around for a while. Or to steal a line from Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” song, “if I can make it in Canaan, I can make it anywhere.”

Did you ever know any Jews that were not opinionated? I believe that of all these traits :argumentative, opinionated, stubborn, aggressive, internally combative, and divisive, the most favorable one to have is being opinionated. But that’s just my opinion.

It is good to have an opinion of something. Having fallen in a situation where you need to place your points and your ideas, you must do it. You can call such a person as opinionated. Not giving an opinion at certain times is also in a small sense being opinionated. Yes, it is because the person being influenced by a particular reason does not feel the need to place an opinion at that particular time.

Thus in general or rather in a bigger sense we can assume that it is a good thing to have an opinion and be opinionated. But there can be a negative aspect to be opinionated as follows:.

If someone is placing his/her opinion in certain situations and that opinion is driven by a sense of false-pride, an idea of increasing one’s own importance or even with an ego or an adamant attitude of sticking to one’s own point of view, then such an attitude cannot really be called as being opinionated, or rather this would be a false perception of being opinionated.

We will come across a number of people who simply want to stick to their ideas or point of view. They are not at all willing to bend down if at all there are proved to be wrong. Their sole purpose is to display their influence on others. Many others might not be placing their opinions with such intentions, but they are so stubborn that they fail to think beyond their self-serving, my way or the highway attitude. Even they cannot be called as ones who are truly opinionated.

One whose ideas and opinions are driven and influenced by truth and not mere emotions of self-pride are the ones who can be called opinionated in a most positive light. They would be placing their opinions with a view to benefit others. At certain times, even if they are wrong they would sportingly accept their mistakes and work upon their false-beliefs to search for what is truth. They would be placing their opinions to enlighten. They would be ready to accept positive ideas from everyone around and keep others’ interests in view before taking any decision. I would call such a person as one who is opinionated in a most positive light. Such should be the character that all of us should be striving for.

Everyone is not perfect. We are my personal guidelines that I try to follow:

• Try to be a good listener
• Keep an open mind when making decisions
• Place opinions that will benefit others
• Place your opinions with humbleness. Yes with humbleness
• Keep an attitude of accepting criticism and suggestions
• Be responsible for your actions
• Apologize when necessary and say you’re sorry
• Continue to learn from friends and older adults
• Do a good deed from someone who will never find out
• Be a good loser and a good winner
• Don’t nag and gossip
• Don’t rain on other peoples’ parades-don’t interrupt others
• Try to keep your promises

So, have an opinion but strive to be a mensch: a person of integrity and honor, someone to admire and emulate, and one of noble character. But that is just my opinion !! Shabbat Shalom.