Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The Danger of Machloket
In this week’s Torah reading, we are exposed to the awful consequences of machloket—unwarranted fighting. Korach gathered a following and challenged Moshe (Moses) over the appointment of Aharon as the Kohen Gadol (the high priest).
As a result of his jealousy, Korach started an uprising against their leader Moshe and created an awful fight amongst the Jewish Nation. The outcome was devastating. In no time, the earth swallowed up Korach along with all his people.
Machloket is not something easily tolerated by the Almighty. In fact, it is one of the most dangerous dealings to get involved in.
Fleeing from Machloket
Rabbi Aharon Cohen, the son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim, had decided to move from Europe to Israel. He settled his family in the modest neighborhood of Sha’arei Chessed in Jerusalem, amongst other pious Jews. He was welcomed warmly into the community and was well respected in his new setting.
One day, out of the blue, he disappeared. His family was gone without leaving any notice and without a trace. After some time, members of the community started getting concerned about the welfare of the Cohen family, and they started organizing a search.
Before long, the Cohens were found living in a different neighborhood, one where they did not fit in with the community as they did in the previous neighborhood. Surprised with what they had found, the old neighbors proceeded to find out why Rabbi Cohen had left them to live in a seemingly less desirable location.
Rabbi Cohen answered them as follows:
“Before I moved to Israel, I consulted with my illustrious father-in-law as to where I should settle. He advised me that it really did not make such a difference; every place in Israel is inherently holy. However, there is one place that I should run away from, and that is a place where there is machloket.
“Recently, there was some discussion about who should be appointed as the new gabbai (coordinator of services) in the synagogue. This turned into an argument, and before long it turned into all-out strife amongst the community. I followed the advice of my father-in-law, and I fled as soon as I found a new place for my family.”
Avoiding the Pull of Discord
Machloket is akin to a wildfire which aggressively consumes anything in its path. It’s not that difficult to be swept into machloket. When matters begin to heat up around us, without even realizing it, we begin to formulate opinions in our minds. The excitement draws us blindly into the whirlpool of dreadful discord. Before we know it, we find ourselves at the core of an ugly conflict which, for the most part, is about a matter that had no major impact on our lives in the first place.
We can ill afford the consequences that are left in the trail of machloket. Getting involved in unwarranted discord is an invitation for unpleasant repercussions from Heaven. If we see a fight coming our way, the wisest thing we can do is flee the scene and keep away as far as possible.
By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber
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