Living Torah: The Importance of a Good Wife

By Rabbi Ari Enkin, rabbinic director, United with Israel

As the saying goes, remember that behind every successful man there stands a great woman. This truth is evident in this week’s Torah reading.

This week’s Torah portion is Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32), named after the troublemaker who stars in it. Korach, from the tribe of Levi, along with Datan, Aviram and On, all from the tribe of Reuben, and 250 other followers that they manage to gather, rebel against the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

It was actually Korach’s wife who instigated the whole thing. She convinced Korach that he deserved to be the leader, not Moses or Aaron. Her constant teasing fired him up to start his rebellion. To make a very long story short, the entire nation knew that Korach’s rebellion was baseless, and that Moses and Aaron were the legitimate leaders of the Jewish people, once the earth opened up and ate the entire Korach group for supper. So much for that uprising.

On, however, somehow survived the ordeal. He was spared. The earth did not swallow him up.

What happened? Why was On spared?

The Talmud explains that On never fully carried through with Korach’s plans thanks to…his wife! We are told that On was indeed all gung-ho about Korach and his plot to overthrow Moses and Aaron. He, too, wanted change. His wife, however, talked some sense into him. She made him realize that this battle was not in his interest. He had nothing to gain. Whether Moses, Aaron or Korach was the leader of the Jewish people, On would still be the same On. He was not about to get a career change or a pay raise even if Korach was successful. His wife made him realize that Moses and Aaron were not ordinary leaders, but rather, they were appointed by God. Starting up with them was nothing less than playing with fire or, more precisely…nuclear explosives.

On finally realized that his wife was 100% right, but he did not know how to proceed, since he had pledged allegiance to Korach and Co. He was worried that if he backed out, he could be in danger. So his wife came up with a plan. She took out a bottle of wine and got On drunk, which in turn put him into a deep sleep. When the goons came to pick On up on their way to their next anti-Moses demonstration, On was fast asleep and she made sure that he would not be woken up. So they left without him, and On was not around when the earth swallowed them up.

The lesson of the Korach and On story is clear: We see the difference that a wife can make. In the case of Korach, it was his wife who brought about his death. In the case of On, it was his wife who saved his life. Husbands, pay attention. As the saying goes: If you are successful in life, remember that behind every successful man there stands a great woman.

For more insights by Rabbi Ari Enkin on this week’s Torah reading, click on the links below:

https://unitedwithisrael.org/korach-and-moses-power-hunger-vs-humility/

https://unitedwithisrael.org/living-torah-when-is-an-argument-legitimate/

https://unitedwithisrael.org/great-leaders-its-all-about-the-people/

https://unitedwithisrael.org/korach-democracy/