In this week’s Torah Portion, Parshat Korach, Moshe’s first cousin, Korach, challenges Moshe’s leadership and Aharon’s position as Kohen. He gathers together a group to challenge Moshe and Aharon, including Datan and Aviram and 250 others. Using the argument that they are “all holy” they offer firing pans of ketoret (incense), which is only allowed to be performed by Kohanim (preists). As a punishment, the earth opens and swallows the ringleaders and a fire burns people who offered ketoret. The people quickly accuse Moshe for the death of these people and are stricken with a plague. Moshe and Aharon fall on their faces to beg Hashem not to destroy all of these people as well. Hashem commands Aharon to bring the ketoret offering which brings an end to the plague. Aharon’s greatness and worthiness to be the Kohen Gadol is further proven when his staff miraculous flowers and gives almonds. The people are then afraid that anyone who approaches the Mishkan will be killed. Therefore, Hashem commands that the Levi’im will guard the entrance to the parts of the Mishkan that are designated for Kohanim so that no one else will accidentally enter. The Parsha concludes with the commandment to give gifts to the Kohanim and Levi’im, including first fruits, teruma on all fruit and vegetables, redemption of first born sons by giving 5 silver shekels to the Kohen, and more. The Kohanim and Levi’im are told that they will not recieve their own land in Israel.
This Parsha has many symbols! Bubble men could symbolize the group of Korach who separated themselves (as there are two colors of bubble men) and rebelled against their leaders and the special groups of people to whom gifts were given – the Kohanim and Levi’im – who did not receive land of their own and served Hashem in the Mishkan. Atomic fireballs represent the fire pans of the group of Korach and the fire that consumed them. Gummy mouths can represent the earth that swallowed Korach and the ringleaders and the praying Moshe and Aharon did to stop the destruction of all of the Jewish People in this week’s Parsha. Flower candies symbolize the flowers the miraculously sprouted on Aharon’s staff, proving he was chosen by Hashem to be Kohen Gadol. Fruit candies and silver coins can symbolize the gifts that were commanded to be given to the Kohanim and Levi’im in the end of the Parsha. Do you have other ideas for symbolic treats for this week’s Parsha? Please share them in the comments below.
Shabbat Shalom,
Shayna Levine-Hefetz
C.S.
says:I gave out for Parshas Korach ring shaped donuts with the hole to represent the hole in the ground with gummy bears to drop through the hole.
Moshe Tzvi Hefetz
says:I think that the gummy mouths should represent the almonds on Ahron’s stick because you can eat almonds with your mouth. I also think that the silver coins should represent the pans that were used for different things in this parsha.