As Israel stands on the frontlines of the intense and ongoing conflict with Iran and its proxies—and as the United States has become directly involved—the question of authentic leadership is not theoretical; it is urgent and real. While a fragile ceasefire has been announced, its durability remains uncertain at this writing, and our security, our moral strength, and our national unity all depend on the individuals who guide us in these fateful times. In this context, the lessons of Parshat Korach provide a timeless—and timely—look at the nature of true leadership.
In Parshat Korach, we encounter one of the most dramatic challenges to leadership in the Torah. Korach, joined by Datan, Aviram, and 250 others, confronts Moshe and Aharon with a bold accusation: “You have gone too far! For all the community are holy… why then do you raise yourselves above the Lord’s congregation?” (Bamidbar 16:3).
At first glance, Korach’s argument seems compelling, even democratic. Why should Moshe and Aharon alone wield spiritual authority? But the Torah is clear that this rebellion is not rooted in a genuine concern for the people’s welfare. Rather, as Rashi (Bamidbar 16:1) underscores, Korach is driven by jealousy, ambition and a hunger for power. His rebellion is thinly cloaked in ideology, but fundamentally self-serving.
Interestingly, the Haftarah for Parshat Korach (I Shmuel 11:14–12:22) also involves a transition in leadership – from the prophet Shmuel to Shaul, Israel’s first king. But here, the tone is entirely different. Shmuel gathers the people and recounts his leadership, asking: “Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken?” (I Shmuel 12:3). Like Moshe in our parsha—who protests, “I have not taken a single donkey from them, nor have I wronged any one of them” (Bamidbar 16:15) – Shmuel stands with a clean record. But the outcomes diverge significantly.
Korach’s rebellion ends in dramatic divine punishment. The earth opens and swallows him and his followers – a clear statement that his challenge was illegitimate. But in the Haftarah, God instructs Shmuel to accede to the people’s request for a king. Shaul is appointed – not because he campaigned or vied for power – but because the people felt a deep need for a new model of leadership, and he humbly answered that call.
Korach’s movement is fragmented. Even his own children, as Chazal teach (Sanhedrin 110a), distanced themselves from his cause. Shaul’s appointment, by contrast, emerges from the will of the nation, unified in their desire for a king.
This juxtaposition reveals a critical insight into leadership through the prism of Torah values. Leadership in Judaism is not about self-advancement – it is about service. It is not imposed from above but emerges from within the people. True leadership, in contrast to Korach’s self-aggrandizing push to place himself and his tribe into a position of power, requires humility, integrity, and responsiveness to the real needs of the community.
This contrast – between ambition and service, self-promotion and humility – is not merely a biblical tension, it is playing out before our eyes today. As Israel faces threats to its very existence, the stakes of leadership are existential. We pray that our military, political and communal leaders make decisions not for personal gain or political survival, but from a place of responsibility, sacrifice and devotion to Klal Yisrael. Our security depends on this. Our unity depends on this. Our future depends on this.
And this is the kind of leadership we so desperately need today – not only from our elected officials or generals, but from every one of us – whether soldiers in uniform, rabbis in our synagogues, teachers in our schools, or parents at home. Each of us can choose to serve, to lead, to care for others. In these times, when fear and uncertainty might tempt us toward cynicism or self-preservation, we must resist the Korach within us and instead remain rooted in the values of Torah and morality.
As we read Parshat Korach and its Haftarah, our soldiers are defending Israel’s borders – by land, by sea and by air – not only here in Israel, but also in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and now, in operations directed at the heart of Iran’s nuclear threat. The entire nation is carrying the burden of this historic and uncertain time.
We are reminded that legitimacy in leadership does not come from charisma, credentials, or clever arguments; rather, it stems from trust, humility, and the willingness to place others’ needs above one’s own. This is the leadership we seek in times of war and peace alike.
With the future of Israel and the stability of the region at stake, may we be blessed with leaders – military, political and spiritual – who, like Moshe and Shmuel, embody integrity and service. And may each of us strive to meet this moment with courage, faith and unity.