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I would like to introduce you to Korach, the much-maligned central character of this week's Torah portion.

Korach is the spirit within us that resorts to gossip and baseless accusations -- without gathering all the facts or considering the hurt it causes others.

Korach is the part of us that privately craves attention and validation when someone else is in the spotlight.

Indeed, Korach -- a leader within the high tribe of Levi -- is the focus of this week's Torah portion.

In this week's Torah portion, Korach launches a mutiny against Moses and his leadership, but is ultimately crushed by God through an amazing special affect worthy of a Cecil DeMille production.

Stay tuned.

As this week's Parashah opens, Korach poses a cogent challenge to the status of Moses, and Moses' brother Aaron.

"Why do raise you yourselves above the Lord's congregation?" asks Korach, who notes that "all the community is holy." (Numbers 16:3).

Korach asks why Moses and Aaron continue to lead uncontested, garnering support from 250 communal leaders - and the mutiny is on.

At first, Moses is taken aback by the criticism and falls to the ground. The great Sage, Rabbi Samuel ben Meir (1085 - 1158), posits that a surprised Moses lowers himself with humility and begins to pray for guidance.

And that divine inspiration soon arrives. Moses challenges Korach and his supporters to appear at the Tent of Meeting with their firepans. They will be pitted again Moses and Aaron. God will provide a sign regarding who should lead the people.

It doesn't take long for God to render judgement. At the divine moment of judgement, "Scarcely had Moses finished speaking....when the ground opened its mouth and swallowed Korach and his followers - with their households, all Korach's people and all of their possessions." (Numbers 16:31)

No contest.

Yet within this dramatic test of Moses' leadership, there remain some troubling questions. After all, aren't we as Jews taught to argue, question and challenge?

Isn't the purpose of the Passover Seder to ask questions? Isn't asking questions an integral part of being Jewish? The Talmud itself encourages us to challenge each other - and even God?

After all, what good is our truth, if it cannot pass the scrutiny of others?

I remember one day while still in rabbinical school, waiting to meet someone for lunch at the Second Avenue Deli. A lone white-bearded man, about 70 years of age, sitting at the table next to me, noticed I was studying a page of Talmud in advance of a class.

"What are you studying?" he asked.

"It is the section of the Talmud that discusses whether it is permissible to say "no" to someone who asks you for food," I replied.

"Okay," said the man, "I'll take the position that it is not permissible to say "no."

To which I replied, "But that's my position."

"Okay then," said the man -- who I later learned was a Talmudic scholar, "Then you take the other position, and I'll challenge you on that.

"Either way, you must understand both sides of the argument before you can offer a true opinion."

So - if that be true, then how can we blame Korach for challenging Moses' leadership?

Our Sages teach that in spite of his convincing words, it was not the greater good that Korach was promoting, but rather his self-interest. They note that Korach's feelings were hurt - along with many of the 250 chieftains -- because their status had been overlooked.

Notes the Midrash -- our collection of oral stories and interpretations -- Korach complained about the high taxes levied upon the people. "You lay a heavier burden on us than the Egyptians did."

But according to the Midrash, Korach never mentioned that much of these levies were earmarked to help the poor and to support community institutions.

The Midrash claims that Korach also challenged Moses with trivial questions. "Does a library full of Torahs require a Mezuzah?"

In other words, Judaism has no tolerance for those who challenge for the sole purpose of tearing down. Rather, we believe in healthy debate -- L'Shem Shamayim -- in the name of heaven.

The Talmud makes frequent note of two houses of study; that of Hillel and that of Shammai.

The two first-century schools would argue fiercely all day, but when it came time to return home they would congratulate each other on a good day of spirited exchange.

There were marriages between the two groups. Students spoke with one another outside the study hall -- sharing food and drink. Indeed, the students of Hillel and Shammai did not invest their egos in their arguments.

Conversely for Korach, it was all about hurt feelings and ego.

So, is this week's story regarding Korach that removed from today?

How many families have been fractured by political division? How many leaders have based their election on tearing down others without advancing new and better policies?

How often do we criticize those who lead us -- whether they be volunteers or those professionals committed to public service?

How often do we quickly criticize or condemn the idea or opinion of a family member or friend? How often do we sacrifice humility and empathy?

Jewish scholar Yeshayahu Leibowitz (1903-1994), wrote that true leaders present themselves as unworthy of the task, as Moses did at the burning bush. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808 -1888) noted that "only persons motivated by self-interest, eager for the position of leader proclaim, "I can do it better."

The Talmud records that the houses of Hillel and Shammai disputed 316 issues, with Hillel prevailing by a 261-55 margin.

The Talmud confirms, "The words of both schools are the words of the living God, but the law follows the rulings of the school of Hillel."

Why?

The Talmud says that the disciples of Hillel were gentle and modest, and studied both their own opinions and the opinions of others -- humbly mentioning the words of Shammai before their own.

Or, as my mentor Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz taught, "Hillel was a nicer and more considerate person."

It is a lesson for us today, as we struggle through times of family, national and communal disagreement.

The harsh ways of Korach -- of criticism for the sake of criticism - had no place as the Israelite nation was evolving its own national conscience.

So, are the days of Korach behind us? The Talmud says, "No," insisting that B'nai Korach lo Maytu. "The descendants of Korach did not die."

As Rabbi Mark Greenspan once wrote, "There will always be demagogues in the community at large, people who feel they can make their own rules and who do not feel bound by the rule of law. We can struggle with the tensions of Jewish life but we must also look at our motivations.

Let us therefore consider this week's Torah portion as it inspires us to examine the nature of our own criticisms.

For in the end, as the Torah inspires us to consider this week, while those who self-aggrandize may enjoy a few days in the sun, the future of the Jewish people has, and will be continue to be, based on respectful dialogue, understanding, compassion and kindness.

Let us not succumb to the Korach within.

Rather, let us base our lives and our interactions with each other "in the name of heaven."

That is who Moses was.

And that is who we are.

Shabbat Shalom v'kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman