I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

This week`s Sedra touches on a very painful and sensitive subject. Korach started a dispute with Moshe Rabeinu, together with On Ben Peles and others. But On Ben Peles is mentioned once at the beginning of the Parsha and then never appears again. The reason is, his wife calmed him down, and persuaded him it was not worthwhile getting involved in the dispute. By contrast, Korach`s wife goaded him on, and persuaded him he had been insulted. In the end Korach`s family suffered terribly, and On Ben Peles`s family flourished.
I personally know of more than one family where brothers had an argument, but it was the wives who took greater offence, and caused the argument to flare up into a massive row, which harmed both families until the end of their lives.
I also know of an instance where two relatives had an argument which was affecting the whole family. Then one them, whom I am sure was in the right, decided the situation was ridiculous. She went and apologised to the other, although she really did not need to, and the whole family was saved. Of course in all these cases it can equally be the husband who makes it worse or better.
Arguments themselves can be bad enough, but the golden rule is; “Don`t get involved in an argument which is not yours” (see Proverbs 26,17) It is the people who take sides and join in, the argument, who cause the greatest harm.

SOURCES; Sanhedrin109b &110a
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QUESTION FOR THE WEEK

Which prophets besides Moshe Rabeinu, said “If no sign occurs I am wrong”?

ANSWER;
Eliyahu Hanavi; Melachim 1, Chap18, Verse 36.
& Michohu; Melachim1, Chap. 22, Verse 28.

If you have any comments, answers, or information, on any of the above, please E-mail me, or tell me.

My E-mail address is mail@rabbij.plus.com

Have a wonderful Shabbos

Jacob Rubinstein (Rabbi)