The משנה in פרקי אבות states,
כל מחלוקת שהיא לשם שמים סופה להתקיים, ושאינה לשם שמים אין סופה להתקיים.
The Rav explains that the word ‘להתקיים – to exist,’ is alluding to the protagonists of the מחלוקת. Those engaged in מחלוקת לשם שמים, will not be punished, whereas those involved in מחלוקת שלא לשם שמים, will eventually perish, ר”ל.
The משנה continues,
מחלוקת לשם שמים זו מחלוקת הלל ושמאי, ושאינה לשם שמים, זו מחלוקת קרח ועדתו
The מחלוקת of קרח is used as the symbol of a מחלוקת שלא לשם שמים, one that the משנה warns us, can bring about death and destruction as happened to עדת קרח. Indeed, the תורה specifies in the פרשה,
ולא יהיה כקרח וכעדתו
There is an איסור to follow in the ways of קרח, and to be involved in מחלוקת. Rashi points out that the punishment for מחלוקת, as seen in the Parsha, is exceedingly harsh, such that even the infants of עדת קרח, were punished and swallowed alive.
What is it about מחלוקת that it’s punishment is so severe? the פסוק says
ויהי בישורון מלך בהתאסף ראשי עם יחד שבטי ישראל
Hashem’s connection to כלל ישראל is established when כלל ישראל is together in אחדות. This was established by מתן תורה, when כלל ישראל united, כאיש אחד בלב אחד, to receive the תורה, and this is how it is for all times. We must remain connected one to another, in order to merit our connection and protection from הקב”ה.
This is highlighted in the words of שמונה עשרה,
ברכנו אבינו כולנו כאחד באור פניך
We ask Hashem to Bentch us with his אור פנים, but that only happens when it’s, כולנו כאחד, we’re united as one.
We can now understand why the punishment of עדת קרח was so severe, and why מחלוקת is deemed so harmful. When causing or getting involved in מחלוקת, a Yid is severing his connection with, not only his fellow Yid, but also his connection to Hashem, and as such is liable חלילה, to lose Hashem’s special ברכה and protection that’s given to every Yid.
On a practical level, the חפץ חיים notes that מחלוקת is so severe because when engaged in it, it inevitably leads to the violation of an endless list of עבירות, including,
כעס, ליצנות, שנאת חינם, נקימה, and חילול השם.
What then can be done, to counter the powerful force of מחלוקת that sucks so many into it? For starters, the awareness of its severity can help in its deterrence. Additionally, realizing that once a מחלוקת starts, it becomes almost impossible to stop it, can help one in thinking twice before getting involved. As the ספרים note, the first letter in מחלוקת, the מ, is mostly sealed at the bottom. But the last letter, the ת, is wide open, symbolizing that once started, a מחלוקת is very difficult to stop.
Finally, there is one more point to remember. חז”ל note that און בן פלת was one of the instigaters of מחלוקת קרח, but thanks to his wife’s ingenuity, he was saved. She told him, ” You’re not a לוי, and as such, regardless of who wins this מחלוקת, you will not be gaining anything.” This approach is also helpful. Before deciding to involve ourselves in a מחלוקת, we should contemplate what we personally stand to gain from it. In many cases, we’ll find that there’s nothing to win, but much to lose, by getting involved in מחלוקת .
We’ll conclude with a story that highlights these points. Harav Shmuel Wosner זצוק”ל lived till the age of 102, having been active and lucid till his final days. Throughout his long lifetime, he merited tremendous סייעתא דשמיא in his endeavors, including becoming one of the leading פוסקים of his time, establishing many תלמידים, and leaving behind a large family, many whom are רבנים and מרביצי תורה. Harav Wosner was once asked how he merited such tremendous ברכה in his life. He responded with a משל.
“One day, the king of the animals, the lion, noticed that none of his subjects were coming close to him. He stopped a wandering zebra and asked him, ” Why are all the animals staying away from me?” The zebra responded, ” Your Majesty, you have very bad breath today.” Upon hearing this, the lion became enraged, and devoured the zebra. Next, a giraffe came by. “Is it true that I have bad breath?”asked the lion. “Of course not, replied the fearful giraffe.” The lion once again grew angry, ” You dare lie to me?,” and devoured the giraffe. Finally, the sly fox passed by. When asked the same question by the lion, the clever fox responded, ” Your Majesty. I would love to help you, but I simply cannot. My nose is stuffed, and I cannot smell!”
Concluded Harav Wosner, “Throughout my life, I have many times been asked to get involved in various מחלוקות. And each time, I responded, that when it comes to מחלוקת, my “nose is stuffed”, and I cannot give an opinion or get involved. And it’s in that זכות that I merited all the wonderful ברכות in my life!”