Parshas Korach tells the well-known story
of the rebellion of Korach against Moshe Rabbeinu. His issue is simple, in a nation like Bnei Yisrael where each person had experienced
holiness and was considered to be on a high spiritual level, he and his
followers felt that why should only one person be Kohen Gadol and represent the
nation spiritually like Aharon did (and his sons to a lesser extent). Korach’s
assumption was flawed; the holiness of the nation didn’t necessarily translate
into full access to every spiritual portal, places such as the Kodesh
Hakedoshim remained off-limits to everyone. And there were other reasons why
Aharon and his children were picked to be the representatives in the Mishkan
and later the Beis Hamikdash. (We have discussed some of these reasons in
previous years.) Ultimately, regardless of his arguments, Korach was not pure
of heart in his arguments, and he and his followers were killed.
The remainder of the parsha spends time
establishing Aharon as the proper Kohen, and discussing some remaining laws of
Kehunah. As part of this, Hashem reviews with Moshe some of the gifts that go
to the Kohanim, such as the Bikkurim, the firstborn of all animals, as well as
the standard Terumos from the produce of the fields.
The purpose of reviewing all these ideas
is to solidify the role the Kohanim play in Jewish society. The pasuk uses an
interesting way to show the eternal nature of this role. “כֹּ֣ל |
תְּרוּמֹ֣ת הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ימוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ לַֽיהֹוָה֒
נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֗ וּלְבָנֶ֧יךָ וְלִבְנֹתֶ֛יךָ אִתְּךָ֖ לְחָק־עוֹלָ֑ם בְּרִית֩
מֶ֨לַח עוֹלָ֥ם הִוא֙” “All the gifts of the holy which are set aside by the
children of Yisrael for Hashem I have given to you and to your sons and
daughters with you, as an eternal portion; it is like an eternal covenant of
salt…” (Bamidbar 18:19).
Let’s focus on the end
of our quoted pasuk; Hashem calls the promise of these gifts an eternal bris. It
becomes a treaty, a promise, between Hashem and the Kohanim (really the entire
nation) that lasts eternally with no conditions or revocability. But then, He
calls it a bris of salt. What does salt have to do with anything? While we do
find a treaty with salt elsewhere in the Torah, that is an actual treaty with
salt, that it should always be brought with every korban on the mizbe’ach. That
is not the reference here.
Every commentary
in our pasuk
believes this is not meant to refer to actual salt, but rather, the treaty is
similar to salt. Salt is the ultimate preservative. Especially in times not too
long ago where there was no refrigeration, salt was one of, if not the most
important item you could have. It kept everything fresh and healthy, it never
spoils. And perhaps most importantly for our parabolic purposes, salt sinks
into whatever it is applied to, becoming a part of the food and enhancing it in
a way that brings out and preserves its finest taste.
So too is the
relationship between Hashem and the Kohanim. While every Jew has direct access
to Hashem if they choose to make use of it, the direct conduit in this world
between man and God is the Kohen. He is the salt between us and Hashem; the one
who preserves the freshness, keeps us healthy, and eventually brings out our
greatest taste in order that our connection to Hashem remains as strong as
ever.
Shabbat Shalom!
Click here for last year's Dvar Torah & Podcast for Parshas Korach
Click here to listen this this week's Podcast (Also available on Apple Podcasts)
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