Among the Generation of the Desert

It is told that Rav Moshe Teitelbaum once testified about himself that in one of his earlier lives he had been among the dor hamidbar, the generation that wandered in the desert for forty years.

His grandson, the Yetev Lev, heard this and asked, "Zeide, if you were among them, you were there for the great struggle between Korach and Moshe Rabbeinu. Whose side did you take?"

"There were three groups," the Yismach Moshe said. "One stood with Moshe Rabbeinu. One followed Korach against Moshe and Aharon. The third stayed neutral, and I was in the third group."

When he saw his grandson's surprise, he explained that even staying neutral had been no small thing. It was a real nisayon (test) not to join Korach. Korach was a great man who learned Torah all day, while Moshe, busy with the needs of the community, was always seen coming and going. "Believe me," he said, "it was not easy. Just to be part of that third group and not join Korach was a great and difficult test."