Feature Tidbit
for Parashat Korach

(Behind) Next to Every Good/Bad Man...

Don't want to be politically incorrect, but do want to make a point...

Shlomo HaMelech writes in Mishlei (14:1), "The wisdom of women builds her house, but folly plucks it down with her hands." Rashi, based on the Midrash, renders the pasuk, "The wise among women build their homes, but foolish women destroy them." Rashi, again citing the Midrash, gives examples of a wise woman and a foolish one - the wife of ON BEN PELET and the wife of Korach, respectively.

We hardly know who ON b. PELET is. He is mentioned only once in Tanach, in the opening pasuk of Parshat Korach, as a co-conspirator. And as the episode of Korach and his rebellion unfolds, ON is gone. Tradition tells us that ON had a change of heart and did not stay with Korach's gang. The Midrash says that it was his wife who talked him out of staying with Korach. And her argument was very practical, not altruistic. Not for the Sake of Heaven. Just plain pragmatism. And yet Mrs. Ben Pelet is the woman that the Midrash chooses as the model of the "wise woman" of Mishlei 14. Many other women in Torah and Na"Ch could be pointed to for their wisdom. Why the wife of ON b. Pelet? Could not Sara, Rivka, Rachel, Leah, Yocheved, Miriam, Devorah, Esther - among others - have been better choices? More inspiring?

Perhaps. But maybe the point in the Midrash and in Mishlei is that we are dealing with plain common sense. No Divinely inspired conduct. Not the deeds of the Matriarchs of Israel. Just a plain person. Unremarkable for anything else.

ON b. Pelet's wife said to him, "You have nothing to gain in this fight. If Aharon wins, then you'll follow him, and if Korach wins, you'll be one of his followers." That's it. And yet this is the wisdom of a woman, says the Midrash, that builds and maintains her home.

And who was the foolish woman who destroyed her house? Korach's wife. The Midrash attributes Korach's actions to his wife's instigation.

Back to the positive side, when one reflects upon the role played by women in guiding the course of events in Jewish history, it becomes obvious that they have been very significant contributors to the results.

It was Sara Imeinu who saw the need to rid Yitzchak of the influence of Yishma'el. Avraham Avinu hesitated to take action until G-d told him to listen to Sara.

And Yitzchak loved Eisav... He was "blinded" to certain things that Rivka saw clearly. And it was she who engineered the events that led to yaakov receiving the Brachot intended for him.

Rachel and Leah, apparently not Yaakov, perceived that the destiny of Israel depended upon both of them being wives of Yaakov and mothers of the Sh'vatim. And the acted accordingly.

The midwives (perhaps Yocheved and Miriam) boldly defied Par'o to save the baby boys. Subsequently, Amram had separated from his wife in Egypt and other men followed suit. Miriam prophesied that his decree was harsher than that of Par'o. As a result, "The man of Levi went and took (reunited with) the daughter of Levi", and from them came Moshe and the redemption of the people from Egypt. Yocheved and Miriam and Bat Par'o - women, all three - were responsible for Moshe's continued well-being and development. Because of righteous women our ancestors were redeemed.

Devora, Yael, Naomi, Ruth, Esther... the list goes on... and on...

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