Rabbi's Blog

Recently, I met a Sans-Klausenberger chassid, and in the process of getting to know each other we got around to talking about electronics, gadgets and technology. When speaking with about technology, invariably the issue of the internet pops up. If this conversation were taking place between religious observant Jews, the conversation regarding the internet would become a sore spot and a danger zone. The issues that have arisen due to the internet have infiltrated Jewish homes and, in some cases, wreaked havoc upon the family.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the position of the Rebbe with regard to technology in general. (I admit, though, that I did not hear this directly from the Rebbe himself.) The Rebbe based his words on a Gemara that everything the Goyim (the gentile world) does or creates is ultimately for the benefit of the Jewish people. The advent of technology in every generation brings challenges to morals and ethics, and we, the Jewish people, need to weather that storm, taking care to use technological advances for our benefit and for a holy purpose.

Having returned from visiting my grandchildren on the East Coast, my wife and I felt the benefits of technology with regards to Skype. Skype is a live video feed between computers and hand held smart phones, allowing people not only to talk but to see each other as well. Having Skype and communicating with our grandchildren regularly made an enormous difference when we initially greeted them. Thanks to Skype our grandchildren recognized us immediately! This continuous method of communicating definitely brings us closer as a family. The only down side to Skype is that the users can't reach out and touch each other, and if the users are not within the range of the camera they are out of the picture. With Skype I feel I am so close yet so far, as there is no replacement for being there in person. I watched my nephew's wedding with a live stream video and I wanted to jump into the circle and dance with the chosson. I want to jump into the screen and hug my grandchildren, and it is so frustrating. The Shul recently signed up for live stream video classes. Once again, it's almost like being there, but just as I am about to ask a question, like so many others at the class, I realize I can't do that.

The edge of life is at times the defining line between semi-reality and reality. As good as the technology gets, it's still missing that one hundred percent true feeling. There are situations in life where we do something but fall short of completing it all the way. This idea is found in this week's Parshas Pinchas. In Bamidbar 26:11 the Torah states "U'Vnei Korach Lo Meisu" "and the sons of Korach did not die". Rav Mordechai Gimpel Yafo wonders about the placement of this passuk; it appears out of place and out of context. He suggests that perhaps it is an introduction to the counting of the tribe of Levi which will take place in verse 58, showing that the family of Yitzhar transformed into the family of Korach. The Ramban adds that this was done to honor his children ,and therefore his family was called by his name, referring to Korach himself.

The greater question is that we read in Parshas Korach that he, Korach and his entire family, were swallowed up in the earth, apparently with no survivors! If so what does the Torah mean by stating that the sons of Korach did not die? Rashi ,in Gemara Sanhedrin 110, brings down a midrash that the sons of Korach were initially included and involved in the plan of their father, Korach. At the actual time of the rebellion, however, they had thoughts of repentance and they did repent in their hearts. Since they did repent, Hashem, in His mercy, gathered them and placed them on a high place in Gehenom and waited it out there. When it says they didn't die, it means they didn't die like their father and his followers who were forever lost.

The Gershuni asks if they repented, why did Hashem give them a place in in Hell and not in Gan Eden, in paradise? Didn't they do Teshuva? I would like to suggest that a Mitzva done in one's heart isn't as good as doing it out in the open for everyone to see and hear. Even if it's not for others, it's still better for the person himself fulfill the mitzvah in an open manner. People learn from the actions of others; no one can see into another's heart. It would have been better if the children of Korach did Teshuva 'out loud' rather than only in their hearts. If they had done Teshuva out loud, Hashem would have given them a place in Gan Eden rather than limiting them to a high place in Gehenom. I would add another idea that it says the children of Korach did not die, but it doesn't say they lived. Here again if they would have done Teshuva out loud and people would have heard them and had seen that they were against Korach, then maybe the passuk would have said "and the children of Korach lived on".

In today's day and age we need to reach the highest levels in battling the yetzer hara and confronting the challenges of the modern world. It is insufficient to say in our hearts that we want to learn more, daven more, do more chessed. Rather we need to speak it out loud, we need to allow others to hear these words. We need to motivate ourselves to actualize our thoughts and to put them into practice. We can't and won't grow spiritually by just thinking things in our hearts. Merely thinking about this is not enough. Thinking is not a complete act We need to reach out and touch; limiting ourselves to a live stream where it's almost real is just not sufficient. We need to live and grow within the reality of the life of Judaism. If we articulate the desire to become better Jews to one another and to Hashem, we will merit to see the rebuilding of the third Beis Hamikdash very soon.

Ah Gut Shabbos