Republicans and Democrats have now laid out their vision for our country. I heard people talk about prison reform, supporting the idea that people can rehabilitate. Yet, the same people have easily picked on something their political opponent may have said in third grade, without assuming they’ve rehabilitated. Others are talking about giving police officers the benefit of the doubt, even if there are a few bad apples, but again, they’d never give the benefit of the doubt to their political opponents. Both sides believe in principles, yet they won’t apply it to their rivals.
G-d treats His rivals differently.
In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, we find a powerful reminder about rehabilitation. It was just a short two weeks ago that we read about Korach, his rebellion against Moses and his eventual demise as the earth swallowed him and his people up alive. Yet, this week the Torah tells us “Korach's sons, however, did not die.”. How’s that possible? Our sages teach that just as the earth began to swallow the rebels, Korach’s son’s repented, they genuinely regretted their choice and G-d accepted their Teshuva, their return. They were kept alive beneath the earth and later emerged. If one changes sincerely, even if inspired by oncoming death, G-d appreciates it and allows us to come home. Korach's boys did a complete 180, to the point that there are Psalms, which we sing in our prayers, which they composed.
No one is perfect, no one. King Solomon taught almost three thousand years ago “For there is no righteous man on earth who does good and sins not.” #nevertrump #bernorbust #jillnothill#legalizefreedom; in today’s world of social media and hashtag conventions, we seem to be searching for a new God or Messiah to create a utopian America. We forget that G-d is the only perfect being, there is only one Messiah who hasn’t been sent to redeem us yet, and everyone else are humans who make mistakes and should be allowed to rehabilitate. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying you should trust every deceiving individual running for office, but learn from G-d, who accepted Korach’s sons, even though they fought against the system that He, in His infinite wisdom, had created.
Don’t assume the worst; give the benefit of the doubt!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!