Korach

The parsha starts, “and Korach, the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehas, the son of Levi, took.”  The Torah does not continue on the lineage to mention “the son of Yaakov” who is the father of all the Shevatim. Also, by Zimri, the passuk states, “Zimri the son of Salu, the Nasi for Shimon” here too it does not follow through with the lineage to mention “the son of Yaakov.” Why is this?

Rashi writes that in Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov requested from Hashem, “בסודם אל תבוא נפשי בקהלם אל תחד כבודי.” Yaakov davened that his name should not be mentioned with argument or by the story of Zimri. Therefore, the Torah does not end the lineage by these places with the words “בן יעקב.” Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz writes, simply understood, if Yaakov would be mentioned together with the actions of Korach and Zimri it would be a disgrace. For this reason, he davened that his name should not be written with them.

However, Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz brings a deeper explanation. The Ramban writes on the words, “פן יש בכם שרש פורה ראש ולענה, lest there shall be amongst you, poisonous roots of grass and weeds.” If parents act improperly and disobey the will of Hashem by doing aveiros, then they cause bad powers to enter into their children. Somewhere along the line the evil will sprout out. The same is true for good. If parents act properly and follow the will of Hashem to learn Torah and do mitzvos, then this is passed down into their children. Even if a descendant veers from the truth there is always a spark inside that can be rekindled to bring him back to the proper path. I heard from my Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Yaakov Friedman that this is because their elter bubbies who davened with fervor when they lit Shabbos candles for their children to follow the path of Hashem. Their feeling towards Yiddishkeit was passed down into the being of their descendants which helped motivate them to return to the light.

With this Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz explains that Yaakov davened to not be mentioned because it would imply that Yakov himself had some bad roots inside of him that brought Korach and Zimri to do bad. The passuk teaches that this was not the case as it does not follow through with the lineage of Yaakov since he was not to blame.

May we pay attention and realize how powerful our actions are, for the good and for the bad!