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“Controversy Versus Conflict”
(Revised and updated from Korach 5760-2000)

The Mishnah in Avot teaches that every controversy that is for the “sake of Heaven” will endure, while those that are not for the sake of Heaven will not endure. The example that the Mishnah provides for a controversy that was not for the sake of Heaven is the conflict of Korach and his assemblage. Although some of Korach’s claims may have been legitimate, the method that he used to drive them home proves that he was not a pursuer of truth, but, rather, a pursuer of controversy.

"Controversy Versus Conflict"

The Mishnah in Avot teaches that every controversy that is for the sake of heaven will endure, while those that are not for the sake of heaven will not endure. The example that the Mishnah gives of a controversy that is not for the sake of heaven is the conflict of Korach and his assemblage. Although some of Korach's points may have been legitimate, the method that he used to drive them home proves that he was not a pursuer of truth, but rather a pursuer of controversy.