Rabbi’s Corner – Metaphor Alert Edition

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite writers on the internet is James Taranto who compiles the Wall Street Journal’s “Best of the Web” – a collection of links, quotes, and analysis.  In his tweaking of mainstream media, Taranto often includes a “Metaphor Alert”, noting when journalists or public figures excessively use metaphors in their rhetoric as opposed.  In some instances, metaphors are apt and may even assist in communicating a point, however, it they are most frequently tools of hyperbole used as short cuts to artificially manipulate others’ emotions.

For one parallel in Jewish rhetoric, the character of Korach presents such an overused analogy when advocates of one position wish to delegitimize another.  The implication being that one side represents “true Judaism” (selectively and self-servingly defined in any way) and thus any opposition to that position can be compared to Korach who similarly challenged the true authority of Judaism – or at least based on one’s interpretation – and thus the opposing individual is ultimately worthy of divine destruction, or at the very minimum, communal opposition.

Even writing this Rabbi’s Corner I confess I am tempted to compare such people to Korach in terms of sanctimony, though that would obviously defeat my purpose here.  Rather, I wish to focus on the response to the Korach rebellion in Bamidbar 17:16-25.  Even after the plague had annihilated the rebels, Moshe still performed a miraculous act to answer Korach’s original charge, “why did you place yourselves above us?” The original accusation, however incendiary, was still ultimately addressed and refuted.

While it is tempting to employ rhetorical shortcuts to score quick point, we must always remember that sometimes people ask serious questions on our beliefs.  It is easy to dismiss opposition with trite metaphors, but it is far more beneficial to ourselves and our communities if we learn to respond appropriately.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Josh Yuter