This week, outside of Israel we will read the story about Korach and his challenge to Moshe Rabbeinu's authority. Korach was driven by a desire for honor and prestige. Instead of gaining what he desired instead he lost everything. Our sages teach us that someone who tries to "force the moment" is pushed backwards. A person obviously needs to put in their effort to advance but they shouldn't push stubbornly beyond what normal effort is.

There is a story of a man who wanted to learn how to understand the language of animals and birds. His Rabbi possessed this knowledge but refused to teach his student. He told his student that understanding the language of the animals wouldn't help and that he is better off living without this knowledge. The student continued to press his teacher who finally relented and taught him the wisdom.  The student went out one day to his cattle and heard two cows communicating. One said to the other that there would soon be a plague which would kill all of the cattle. The student decided to sell all of his cattle and when the plague arrived he was able to avoid any losses. Sometime later he went out and heard two chickens conversing and one said to the other that soon there would be flooding which would destroy all the crops. The student quickly sold all of his crops and once again avoided any loss. As time passed he once again went out and heard two animals conversing. This time one said to the other that their owner (the student) would soon die, before his time. The student was terrified and ran to his teacher to tell him what happened and how he could be saved. The Rabbi answered that he warned him previously about using this knowledge. He explained to his student that had you not taken unnatural steps to save your property you in fact would have lost it but that monetary loss would have atoned for you and you would have lived a long life. Now that you used unnatural means to avoid the financial loss there is nothing left to atone for you and therefore your life is going to be cut short.

We all have to put in our effort but there is a point where a person must refrain from taking unnatural steps to advance their interest. Once we have made our effort we should put our Faith in G-d that success will come our way in the right and proper time.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath