I am missing B'haalotecha and Shelach Lecha. They must be on a child's computer. It's the problem of multiple laptops in one household. Oh technology. Still, here's Korach for now.
The story has been told before, but it needs to be told again. A selfish argument benefits no one. Pirkei Avot teaches, “Any argument l’shem Shemayim, that is for the sake of Heaven, its resolution will endure, but one that is not l’shem Shemayim will not have an enduring end. Which argument was l’shem Shemayim? The controversy between Hillel and Shammai. And which argument was not l’shem Shemayim? The controversy of Korach and his company.” (Pirkei Avot 5:17)
“Korach ben Izhar ben K’hat, ben Levi took himself, along with Datan and Abiram, the sons of Eliav, and On ben Pelet, descendants of Reuben. They rose up before Moshe together with two hundred fifty Israelites, leaders of the community, chosen within the assembly. They united against Moshe and Aaron, and they said to them, ‘You go too far. All the community is holy, ALL of them, and God is in their midst. Why should you be raised over the community of God?”
Korach, with many leaders from the community, come before Moshe and Aaron. They are all leaders in their own right. They seem to speak for the people. But, in truth, the come to “gang up,” to elevate themselves while knocking down Moshe and Aaron. How can we know this? Just two parshiyot ago, in B’ha’alotekha Moshe gathered together seventy of the elders of the community to experience God’s prophecy first hand. But prophecy and leadership did not just rest upon them, God’s spirit also rested upon Eldad and Medad, who remained in the camp. In front of all, they prophesized. A youth ran to Joshua to tell him of this occurrence. Joshua says to Moshe, “Restrain them.” But Moshe answers, “Are you upset on my account? If only all God’s people were prophets so that God’s spirit rested upon them.” Moshe actively sought to share the leadership, but prophecy was not his to give, but rather from God.
What is an argument l’shem Shemayim? The controversy between Hillel and Shammai. Though often vehemently opposed to each other’s arguments and points of view, the families and schools of Hillel and Shammai socialized and married. Hillel was known to quote Shammai’s opinions before giving his own. If only more of us could put our own egos and issues aside to argue, not for ourselves but rather, for the sake of Heaven alone, wow. Not only this, but if we could all see the purpose of Heaven in the words of others imagine what we could accomplish.
