If Korach were in the Knesset

Nechama Leibowitz taught:

There is no greater annoyance than when one party to a dispute refuses to sit down and talk things out with the other side. In such a situation lies little hope for peaceful settlement.

This sounds exactly like what is happening in the Knesset today.  The different political parties are not getting along and within each party there are disputes as well with no solution in sight.

This age old problem goes back to the “machloket” between Korach and his congregation. Not only was Korach angry at Moshe and Aharon, but even the members of his congregation of followers could not get along with one another. Each member had his own interests which nobody was willing to sacrifice for the sake of the greater good.

Korach was a great speaker and a great influencer. If he would have only used his skills for the positive rather than the negative, he, the 250+ men who were with him and the 14,700 who died in the plague could have all had their lives spared.

The new Knesset which was elected has potential to make things work. If everyone would take a step back, look at how disastrous the story of Korach turned out and learn from previous generations that we need to work together in order to make the State of Israel run properly we would be on the road to move ahead.

Instead of wasting more money on new elections which could again end up at a standstill, there is an opportunity for everyone to get together, make some compromises and get this government going.

Israel has enough enemies. Now is the time for us to become one united front.