Parashat Korah tells the story of Korah, a relative of Moshe Rabbenu, who arose and challenged Moshe’s authority, together with a group of 250 followers. The thrust of Korah’s challenge, it seems, was the desire to serve as kohen gadol. Korah was a levi, who filled certain important roles in the Mishkan, but he wanted the more prestigious position of kohen.
The Zohar makes a very puzzling comment about Korah’s challenge against Moshe. Korah’s father’s name was יצהר, which means “oil.” The Zohar writes that Korah argued that since his father’s name alludes to oil, he deserved to be kohen gadol.
What does this mean? What is the connection between oil and the position of kohen gadol?
The answer is that that leviyim are associated with wine, whereas the kohanim are associated with oil.
Wine has the property of facilitating speech. When we’re in a restaurant, and we hear an especially loud group, it is very likely that we’ll see a couple of empty wine bottles on the table… Wine tends to make a person more comfortable and at ease, such that he is more open to talking and even singing. As the famous expression says, נכנס יין יצא סוד – “When wine enters, the secret comes out.” One of the jobs of the leviyim in the Bet Ha’mikdash was to sing during the pouring of wine over the altar. Wine is associated with free-spirited song, which was the role of the leviyim.
The kohen gadol, however, is associated with oil, which neither makes a sound or causes sound. When a kohen gadol is appointed to his post, he is anointed with special oil. The kohanim are specifically commanded not to drink wine before entering the Bet Ha’mikdash to serve, because they are associated not with wine, but with the quality of silence. The paradigmatic kohen gadol, Aharon, excelled in the quality of reticence, remaining silent even when he had every reason to complain and protest. After his two sons were tragically killed, the Torah tells, וידם אהרון – Aharon kept quiet.
This is what the Zohar was alluding to – that Korah vied for a position which he was not at all cut out for. He wanted to be the kohen gadol, a position associated with the quality of “oil,” of silence, of discretion, of knowing when to remain quiet. But Korah was just the opposite. He spoke to Moshe brazenly and offensively. Not only was Korach not silent – he abused the power of speech, hurling insults at the greatest man who ever lived.
Why was it so important for the kohen gadol, for the religious leader, to excel specifically in this area, knowing how to remain silent?
The answer, unfortunately, can be found in many offices, and in many homes, throughout the world.
The combination of power and stress often results in verbal abuse. A person in a position of power might feel that he can say anything, that he is entitled to express himself anyway he chooses. When this self-proclaimed right is combined with strong, difficult emotions, abusive speech occurs. When a boss is under stress because something isn’t right, he is tempted to take it out on his employee, and speak hurtfully. When a parent, the authority figure in the home, is stressed – and what parent doesn’t occasionally experience stress? – he or she is tempted to lash out and insult the child.
The kohen gadol, who holds the highest position of spiritual leadership, needed to excel in the quality of וידום אהרון, of remaining silent even when he had something to say. Otherwise, he would use his power to put down and malign other people.
The story is told of Thomas Watson, who served as CEO of IBM during the early-mid 20th century. Once, one of the company’s salesmen made a terrible mistake, causing the company to lose an important million-dollar deal which should have been easily finalized. The salesmen walked into Watson’s office the next day, assuming that he was going to be fired.
But instead, Watson asked him what happened. The man explained the mistakes he made, and then said the he understood that he should be fired.
“Why would I fire you?” Mr. Watson asked. “I invested $1 million dollars in your training and education. Why would I just let you go?”
This is such a remarkable story because so few people in positions of authority are able to maintain their composure in these kinds of situations. They react angrily, erupting in a fiery rage. Because they feel they can, they allow their emotions to explode.
Every employer, every parent, and every spouse needs to learn this lesson of וידום אהרון, of keeping quiet when we have something negative to say. Our “wine” – our power of speech – must be used for “song,” for words that create a joyous, pleasant environment around us. And when we feel the urge to say something hurtful or offensive, we must follow Aharon’s inspiring example and remain silent, and refuse to introduce negativity into our lives.