As I am writing this, there is a Jet outside flying low over the Bay.   It is a reminder of what it took to become, and what takes to remain, a free country. Our Independence story does not rest solely on our battle for freedom. Instead we tend focus on what our country stands for, Justice, Freedom, Equality, Dignity, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It is important that we remember that we currently live in the greatest social and political experiment that was ever devised. As the Rabbis required, we should count our blessings each and every day. Happy Fourth of July to each of us!!!!

 

In this week's Torah portion, Korach is a first cousin to Moses and Aaron. He and his followers are unhappy that they are not THE leaders and they begin a rebellion. There is much rich narrative to discuss in this Torah portion; however, I want to focus on one piece.

 

Moses, in an effort to resolve the conflict, calls a meeting. Unfortunately, Korach and his group refuse to meet. Their decision to not even begin a conversation with Moses is at the root of the problem and doomed their effort from the beginning. I am certain that the failure to engage and to discuss has proven fatal to many a civilization.

 

The Rabbis were very keyed into the fact that it was natural for people to have disagreements. In Hebrew, the word for disagreement is "Makhloket". Their solution was that a disagreement required an open, serious, but respectful, conversation.

 

In the Rabbinic vernacular each Makhloket had 49 arguments for one side, and 49 arguments for the other side. The discussion (argument) needed to thoroughly run through all sides of a dispute. At the end, a vote was taken and the argument that received the most votes, was the one that was followed. This is called "49 vs. 49". The number 49 was not chosen by accident.   Of the several explanations given, the one I like the most is that our ancestors waited 49 days to receive the Torah after they left Egypt. We commemorate this each year when we count 49 days from Passover until Shavuot.

 

A disagreement that follows the rubric of full and respectful argument is call a "Makhloket Shem Shamayim", "A disagreement for the sake of heaven".

 

A dispute that does not get resolved in this fashion, i.e. one where the parties either do not discuss or where they are completely disrespectful, is "A disagreement that Is not for the sake of heaven". This method is destructive and should be avoided.

 

We live in a world in which it seems all arguments are NOT for the sake of heaven. People have learned to talk past or through each other. At best, we do not listen to each other. At worst, we defame and disparage each other. Because of this, nothing gets resolved and the venom within begins to boil.

 

It is for this reason that I am teaching a class this summer entitled: "Dispute Resolution the Beit Midrash Way: How to Disagree Constructively". As in years past, this class will include lecture, text study, video and group discussion. It will cover such topics as "Meet or Refuse to Meet", "Xenophobia or National Security", and "Fake News or Uncovering the Truth". We will find that there are, indeed many sides to each disagreement and that no one is 100% correct.

 

The class will run for 7 weeks, on Friday morning, from July 12th through August 23rd. Each class will begin at 10:00 and run for about two hours with a short break. Each class stands on its own, so if you can't make all of them, do not worry. As always, we suggest $5.00 per class, but if you plan on coming to all 7 you can pay $30.00. An RSVP is not required but would be appreciated so that I can know how many booklets to print each week.

 

If Korach had taken this class his disagreement with Moses might have a had a different ending.

 

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Fourth of July Sameach!!!! Rabbi Michael S. Jay