The name of the Parshah, "Korach," refers to Korach, head of the rebellion against Moses and Aaron, and is found in Numbers 16:1. Korach incites a mutiny challenging Moses’ leadership and the granting of the kehunah (priesthood) to Aaron. He is accompanied by Moses’ inveterate foes, Dathan and Abiram.

Korach or Korah (Hebrew: קֹרַח Qoraḥ —the name " Korah," which in turn means baldness, ice, hail, or frost, the second word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah) is the 38th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה ‎, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the Book of Numbers.

In Parashat Korach, we learn about a rebellion by Korach and 250 other community leaders who accuse Moses and Aaron ... This biblical power structure — and struggle — in Korach may offend our democratic sensibilities. Reaching out is a risk that comes with a big potential reward.

Please read through the text from this week's parsha, Korah. Prompt your students to pay attention to how Korah presents his argument. Ask them; how do you present yourself when challenge authority?

Because the tribe of Reuben was encamped south of the Tabernacle, being a neighbor of Kehat and his descendants who were also encamped to the south, they joined with Korach in his dispute; “Woe to the wicked and woe to his neighbor!” …

His distant cousin, Korach, gathers more than 250 individuals to challenge Moses and Aaron. The rest of Parashat Korach paints in vivid, violent detail the ways both God and Moses respond to the uprising.

Learn about this week's Torah Portion: Parshas Korach Looking for a different Parsha? View all Torah Portions >>

parashah is named after its central character, Korach, Moses’ first cousin. Not long after the events of the previous parashah, the episode of the spies and its aftermath, Korach led a rebellion against Moses’ leadership. This parashah is devoted …

Parashat Korach recounts the rebellion of Korach (a cousin of Moses and Aaron), Dathan, Abiram, and 250 of their followers. Some rebels are swallowed by the ground, while others are consumed by a fire from God and others die in a plague.

Parashat Korach: Summary. Korach and his followers rebel against Moses' and Aaron's leadership and are killed; God instructs Aaron regarding laws of the priesthood. By Nancy Reuben Greenfield