A Zen master visiting New York City goes up to a hot dog vendor and says, "Make me one with everything."
The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen master, who pays with a $20 bill.
The vendor puts the bill in the cash box and closes it. "Excuse me, but where’s my change?" asks the Zen master.
The vendor responds, "Change must come from within."
Korach incites a mutiny in this week's Torah portion, challenging Moses’s leadership and the granting of the kehunah (priesthood) to Aaron. He is accompanied by Moses’s inveterate foes, Dathan and Abiram. Joining them are 250 distinguished members of the community, who offer the sacrosanct ketoret (incense) to prove their worthiness for the priesthood. The earth opens up and swallows the mutineers and a fire consumes the ketoret-offerers.
Did you know that the prophet Samuel was a descendant of one of Korach's sons? Interestingly, during the revolt, the sons of Korach experienced a change of heart, accompanied by internal regret and remorse, but they continued to fight. This form of repentance, referred to as "Hirhur Teshuva" in the Talmud, involves contemplating the need for repentance.
Is there a point in contemplating change but not implementing it? Is real change possible?
None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. Sometimes, we find ourselves on the verge of doing something we know is wrong and we experience a twinge of regret even before committing the act. This feeling of regret is the key to change. It is the starting point, no matter how insignificant it may seem, that opens up the possibility for transformation.
We ought to acknowledge and support this sense of remorse and, of course, strive to transform it into meaningful action. Eventually, even an imperfect person who merely contemplates repentance can become the catalyst for greatness, as exemplified by the emergence of a prophet like Shmuel from the son of Korach.
If you ever find yourself burdened with remorse, remember that you possess incredible potential! It is the first step towards change.
Is change possible? If you acknowledge its necessity, then yes, it is.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman