The name of the Parshah, "Korach," refers to Korach, head of the rebellion against Moses and Aaron. 

Korach incites a mutiny challenging Moses’ leadership and the granting of the Priesthood to Aaron. Joining him are 250 distinguished members of the community, who offer the sacrosanct ketoret (incense) to prove their worthiness for the priesthood. The earth opens up and swallows the mutineers, and a fire consumes the ketoret-offerers.

A subsequent plague is stopped by Aaron’s offering of ketoret. Aaron’s staff miraculously blossoms and brings forth almonds, to prove that his designation as high priest is divinely ordained.

G‑d commands that a terumah - gift- from each crop of grain, wine and oil, as well as all firstborn sheep and cattle, and other specified gifts, be given to the kohanim 

Chabad.org

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Sunday, June 29, 2025, marks the 31st anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. On the anniversary of a tzadik’s passing, all the light that he planted in this world—his teachings, good deeds, and everything in which he invested his life and being—all this shines brightly, so that anyone connected to him can receive blessings of life, happiness and wisdom.

When Korah started his rebellion against Moshe and Aaron, he was just one man. Slowly, he gained a few followers but still, he was just a small group. However, after some time, he swept up 250 men from the tribe of Reuben to join him in this controversy. Why Reuben? Reuben camped in close proximity to Korach and therefore were an easy target for Korachs convincing. This allowed them to be easily swayed by this man’s words. 

This teaches us the importance of surrounding us with people who act in the proper way. If such negativity can spread so quickly among neighbors, imagine how quickly positivity can spread?!

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There is a mudras witching describes the king of Paras (which is Persia, the empire that included present-day Iran and Iraq), the king of Aram (the Western nations), and the assurance made to the Jewish people not to be afraid during these events, because “the time of your redemption has arrived”.

Given the ongoing tension between Iran and the West, as well as Israel, it is compelling to say that this Midrash is describing an end-of-days war with Iran (Paras) and the West, a war which brings fear to the entire world, but which culminates in the revelation of Moshiach

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Shimshon stock once brought an almost Bar Miztvah boy to meet the Rebbe in 770

The Rebbe briefly blessed the boy that he should grow to become a source of pride to the Jewish people and to his family. As they turned to leave, the Rebbe surprised the three Americans with the question he addressed to the youngster: “Are you a baseball fan?”

The Bar-Mitzvah boy replied that he was.

”Which team are you a fan of — the Yankees or the Dodgers?”

”The Dodgers,” replied the boy.

”Does your father have the same feeling for the Dodgers as you have?”

”No.”

”Does he take you out to games?”

”Well, every once in a while my father takes me to a game. We were at a game a month ago.”

"How was the game?"

”It was disappointing,” the 13-year-old confessed. “By the sixth inning, the Dodgers were losing nine-to-two, so we decided to leave.”

”Did the players also leave the game when you left?”

”Rabbi, the players can't leave in the middle of the game!”

”Why not?” asked the Rebbe. “Explain to me how this works.”

”There are players and fans,” the baseball fan explained. “The fans can leave when they like — they're not part of the game and the game could, and does, continue after they leave. But the players need to stay and try to win until the game is over.”

”That is the lesson I want to teach you in Judaism,” said the Rebbe with a smile. “You can be either a fan or a player. Be a player.”

This was the Rebbes perspective, every Jew has the ability to be a player and to make a difference in this world. Especially now in a time of war in Israel, we must remember that each of us plays an active role in our success, through the good deeds we do and the prayers we say. 

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