Korach’s Fatal Mistake: How the Desire to Take Instead of Give Led to His Downfall

In this week’s Torah portion, we read: “And Korach, son of Izhar, son of Kehath, son of Levi, took...” (Numbers 16:1)

The Sages ask (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:8): “Korach was a wise man. What led him to commit such foolishness?”

A common explanation is hidden in the opening words: “And Korach took.”

Korach’s mindset was always focused on one thing — taking.

Korach’s Wealth and His Downfall

Korach was extraordinarily wealthy. The Talmud teaches that he discovered one of the treasure caches hidden by Joseph in Egypt (Pesachim 119a).

Yet despite his immense wealth, his thoughts were constantly occupied with acquiring more and more.

When people approached him asking for donations for the Tabernacle, he would evade them. He convinced himself that others should give instead, allowing them to earn the merit.

This destructive character trait ultimately led to his downfall. His relentless pursuit of wealth and honor brought destruction upon both himself and those who followed him.

The Purpose of Wealth Is to Give

When God blesses a person with financial resources, that person is expected to use them to help others. This is the only path to true success and endurance in this world because the purpose of creation itself is giving.

As King David wrote: “The world is built through kindness” (Psalms 89:3).

A person is expected to give — to a spouse, children, neighbors, friends, and those in need.

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin writes in the introduction to Nefesh HaChaim: “Man was not created for himself alone, but to benefit others to the fullest extent of his ability.”

Why Giving Leads to Growth

Nature itself teaches this lesson.

Hair continues to grow only when it is trimmed. Grass becomes healthier and stronger when it is cut properly. If left untouched, growth eventually slows.

The same principle applies to wealth.

When a person releases some of his money through charity, kindness, and support of worthy causes, his blessings often increase. He becomes like a flowing spring rather than a stagnant pool.

As the Psalmist says: “He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor” (Psalms 112:9).

On the other hand, someone who hoards wealth solely for himself may ultimately lose it.

King Solomon warned: “Wealth kept by its owner for his own harm” (Ecclesiastes 5:12).

The Talmud identifies this verse as referring to Korach's wealth (Sanhedrin 110a). Korach was unwilling to share, and in the end his fortune was taken from him.

The book of Proverbs teaches: “There is one who scatters, yet increases still.”

A remarkable story from Jerusalem illustrates this principle.

A Five-Shekel Mitzvah

Several years ago, a God-fearing Jew attended an early-morning prayer service on the first day of Passover before heading to a family circumcision ceremony.

The minyan was small — only twelve men.

When it came time for the Torah reading, the synagogue trustee offered the aliyot for sale. Since attendance was sparse, nobody stepped forward to purchase them.

The man felt that this lack of interest diminished the honor of the Torah, so he purchased two aliyot for the modest price of five shekels each.

For one of them, he instructed the trustee to honor an elderly, lonely man who prayed quietly in the back of the synagogue. The man was known in the community as someone who lived in sadness and isolation.

The donor hoped to brighten his spirits.

An Unexpected Phone Call

Surprisingly, the elderly man showed little visible emotion when called to the Torah.

A month later, the donor received an unexpected phone call.

It was the elderly man.

The old man said: “I am seventy-five years old, and no one has ever purchased an aliyah for me. No one ever thought about me. By noticing me and honoring me, you brought life back into my spirit. For the first time, I felt that someone cared.”

He insisted on meeting in person.

A Gift Beyond Imagination

During their meeting, the elderly man asked about the donor's family and finances.

The donor explained that he had recently married off two children and was struggling under heavy debts, especially after the expenses of Passover.

The elderly man listened carefully and asked to meet again the following day.

When they met, the old man handed him a large bundle of cash. “I want to help someone who truly needs it,” he said.

The donor opened the package and was stunned. Inside was 50,000 shekels.

He had spent only five shekels to honor another Jew — and received ten thousand times that amount in return.

The gift enabled him to pay off crushing debts and brought relief to his family.

Sow Kindness, Reap Blessing

The prophet Hosea teaches: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap according to kindness” (Hosea 10:12).

A farmer plants a small amount of seed and harvests many times more.

The same is true of charity and kindness. A person gives a little, and God often returns blessings far beyond what was given.

The Lesson of Korach

Korach's tragedy was not simply that he desired honor. His deeper mistake was that he lived with a mindset of taking rather than giving.

The Torah teaches that true greatness comes not from accumulating wealth, but from using our blessings to benefit others.

When a person becomes a source of kindness and generosity, he aligns himself with the very purpose for which the world was created.

May we merit to become pursuers of charity and kindness, and through those merits, witness the coming of Mashiach and the complete redemption speedily in our days. Amen.