Korach: A Lesson for Israel after the Israel-Iran War

For decades, Iran’s Supreme Leaders have viewed the West—particularly the United States and Israel—as existential threats to the moral and political order they seek to establish. In their eyes, the West represents “global arrogance,” a force of moral decay and economic exploitation that must be resisted through both religious ideology and military force. Only a government rooted in Islamic law (Shari‘a) and guided by clerical leadership, they believe, can restore justice to the world. Central to their vision is, first, the destruction of the Israel and, later, America. To this end, Iran assembled a network of proxies encircling Israel, amassed a vast arsenal of ballistic missiles, and pursued nuclear weapons capability.

Yet, in the recent Israel–Iran war, these ambitions were decisively shattered. Through a remarkable combination of precise intelligence, aerial supremacy, and advanced cyber warfare—executed in close coordination with the United States—Israel dismantled critical elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, eliminated key missile production facilities, and neutralized elite IRGC commanders and scientists. Over 70 air-defense systems were incapacitated, and Israeli aircraft struck deep within Iranian territory, including the outskirts of Tehran, with near impunity.

The strategic message was unmistakable: existential threats will be met with bold and unflinching resolve. Israel not only protected its national security, but also reasserted its deterrent power in the eyes of both allies and adversaries.

And yet, with victory on the battlefield now secured, a profound question emerges: What comes next? Should Israel double down on its military dominance, or should it now redirect its energy toward a higher, more enduring purpose?

Parashat Korach, that we read this week, offers us insight into this question.

Korach, along with 250 prominent leaders, challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, proclaiming, “You have gone too far! For all the community are holy… Why then do you raise yourselves above the Lord’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3). Though their words were directed at both brothers, the true target was Aaron and the priesthood. They accused him of spiritual elitism, of using sacred authority to elevate himself above the people.

To resolve the dispute, Moses proposed a dramatic test: each of the 250 rebels would offer incense in firepans—a ritual service permitted only to priests. If God accepted their offerings, it would demonstrate their legitimacy. The result was that instead of consuming their incense, a fire from Heaven consumed them. Their challenge had been decisively—and tragically—rejected.

One might think the matter was settled. Yet Moses initiated a second test: he collected twelve staffs, one for each tribe, inscribing the name of each tribal leader, including Aaron’s. The rods were placed in the Tent of Meeting overnight. When Moses entered the next morning, only Aaron’s rod had miraculously blossomed—it had sprouted buds, produced flowers, and yielded ripe almonds. Thus, it became clear that his claim to the priesthood was approved by God.

But why was this second test necessary? Hadn’t God already affirmed Aaron’s role through the test of the incense?

The answer may lie in the nature of the two tests. The incense test affirmed truth through destruction; the rod test affirmed it through life. The first brought death; the second, renewal. The point, then, is to show that affirming Aaron’s priesthood does not have to come through the rejection and death of others, as in the test of the incense, but by positive, life-giving signs as in the test of the rods. The priesthood, and leadership in general, is meant to bring life, growth, and blessing—not death.

So too with Israel today. By defeating Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran on the battlefield, Israel has demonstrated unparalleled strength to defeat those who threaten its existence. Military victories alone, however, will not secure Israel’s place in the region over the long term. Now comes the deeper challenge: to show that Israel’s strength is not just in its sword but in its spirit—its capacity to bring life and blessing.

Through its achievements in technology, medicine, agriculture, education, innovation, and its’ focus on human dignity, equality and the sanctity of life, Israel can become not just a military superpower but a beacon of hope for the region and the world at large.

Let us hope that our leaders takes advantage of this opportunity in the months and years ahead.

Shabbat Shalom.