You Have Taken Too Much Upon
You have taken too much upon yourselves
the entire congregation is holy —
We will see, said our teacher.
The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them
Korach and all of them
his challenge was personal
not principled.
O holy God of Shabbes inspiration Korach
Grant me the presence of mind
To discern a legitimate argument
From an illegitimate argument
When to insist when not to insist
When to resist –
When to wait.
Amen.
Small alef; poetry Korach
Maqam Nahawand
C D E flat F
Every Shabbat is characterized by a maqam
A musical figure
Hebrew cognate maqom
Signifying Place.
Numbers 16:3, 5, 31
Avot 5:9