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Korach 5785: Ambition and Rebellion

What was Korach really fighting for?

In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbi Raphael Polisuk explore Parshat Korach. They revisit Korach’s rebellion not just as a political protest, but as a sincere—and dangerous—desire for closeness to God. Drawing connections to Nadav and Avihu, incense offerings, and divine fire, the episode challenges listeners to consider whether spiritual closeness is always a blessing—or sometimes too powerful to survive.

Featuring
Rabbi Raphael Polisuk – Pardes Faculty
Zvi Hirschfield – Pardes Faculty and Host of Pardes from Jerusalem

Rafael J. Polisuk

Rabbi Rafael J. Polisuk teaches Talmud, Tanakh and Jewish Thought at Pardes. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rafael made aliyah and studied at Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav. Rafael co-founded and led the Seed Beit Midrash initiative of Bnei Akiva Israel, helping cultivate young Torah leadership communities throughout the country. He received rabbinic ordination in 2024 through the Yashrut Semikha initiative led by Rabbi Daniel Landes.

Rafael is deeply engaged in social and spiritual activism, with a particular focus on LGBTQ inclusion within the Orthodox community. A believer in rigorous and vibrant Torah learning as the moral and spiritual center of Jewish life, he works to foster greater belonging and tolerance through a Torah-rooted approach.