Parshas Korach Erev Shabbos Shabbos Day Candle Lighting 4:53pm Shacharis 9:00am Mincha 4:53pm Latest time for Shema 10:00am Shkiya 5:11pm Shabbos Mincha 4:40pm Shabbos Ends 5:57pm Ladies Shiur Mrs Michal Kaufman will be giving a ladies shiur this Shabbos Morning All ladies and girls welcome Avos Ubonim This week Avos Ubonim will take place at 7:00-7:45pm Special treat - Chocolate Muffin!! Short Vort on the Parsha The parasha begins, "Korach, the son of Yitzhar the son of Kehos the son of Levi, took, along with Dasan and Avirom the sons of Eliav, and On the son of Peles, the offspring of Reuvein" (Bamidbar 16:1). Rashi deals with the obvious question: What did Korach take? He explains that Korach took himself. In other words, by starting an argument he in effect separated himself from the rest of Klal Yisrael. Rav Wolbe adds that Korach's punishment was meted out measure for measure. The ground split open and, "the earth covered them over and they were lost from among the congregation" (ibid 16:33). He separated himself from the klal and therefore Hashem permanently separated him from the klal. This explains what Chazal declare, "Woe unto he who is appointed to a position of authority (such as a king) for the position buries those who occupy it" (Pesachim 87b). When a person achieves prominence, he is put on a pedestal and thereby stands apart from the rest of the klal. Thus, he is in danger of being severed from the klal. The way to combat this threat is to ensure that he remains involved with the klal. Our calling is to be part of the klal: To daven together with them, learn with them and donate from our time and resources to the success of the klal. When each individual uses his talents to advance the interests of the community at large, the tzibbur thrives, Hashem's glory is increased and each individual reaps the rewards of the collective group of people!