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Korach (2026)

Shabbat Korach

Dvar Torah – Inspiring the spiritual through the material
I once visited Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards. The pomp, circumstance, and trumpets perfectly captured the grandeur of the British monarchy. On another occasion, while taking a nighttime stroll in a much smaller European country, I passed by the formal royal residence. There were no horses or guards in sight—just a simple “Please do not disturb” sign. It was, to say the least, underwhelming.

There is a natural human need to associate importance with beauty and ceremony. In this week’s Torah portion, there is a commandment to post guards around the perimeter of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem at night. Maimonides famously points out (Beit Habechira 8:1) that this was not a security measure to keep out thieves or enemies; rather, it was strictly a guard of honor. A majestic building with guards is substantially different than one without. Even in the darkest hours of the night, the torches of the guards beamed from the Temple’s rampart. As dawn broke and the gates opened, the guards stood solemnly in the courtyard, impressing a deep sense of awe and reverence upon everyone who saw them.

This idea teaches us a profound lesson about how we approach our own spiritual lives: aesthetics matter. Our physical surroundings impact our internal state. When we build a synagogue, the architecture should inspire a mindset of connection and prayer. When we celebrate the Sabbath or holidays, the materialism of fine dress helps us elevate the day spiritually.

The late Rabbi Yehuda Amital beautifully captured this concept when designing his Yeshiva campus in Israel. He famously built a large garden and pond to encircle the entrance to the main study hall. When asked why, he explained that a place dedicated to the Torah should inspire a sense of grandeur that reflects the greatness of the teachings themselves. By bringing physical beauty into our spiritual spaces and practices, we elevate the experience for ourselves and everyone around us.

Shabbat in/out times
Yerushalayim 19:05/20:28
Tel-Aviv 19:25/20:30
Kiryat Shmona 19:17/20:31
London 21:00/22:32
NYC 20:10/21:19
Miami 19:55/20:52

Shabbat Shalom!



 

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