Bad Influences

The camp of Israel in the desert was set up on a very orderly fashion. The Mishkan was in the center, and was surrounded by the three Levite families as well as Moshe and Aharon on the fourth side.

Three tribes were adjacent to each of the four families. Yehuda, Yissasschar, and Zevulun, camped behind Moshe and Aharon.

Reuven, Shimon, and Gad, were camped behind the family of Kehat. This meant that Korach was very near in proximity to the tribe of Reuven. The troublemakers Datan and Aviram came from Reuven.

The Rabbis have a statement that says, אוי לרשע אוי לשכינו, “Woe to the evil person, and woe to his neighbor.” This is a clear warning that when one lives near an evil person, he is likely to be influenced by that person.

This is such a basic idea about human nature, but needs to be repeated over and over again.

We are all products of our environment, and we are influenced by our surroundings.

Avraham Avinu needed to leave his father’s idolatrous home in order to flourish as the first Jew.

If we are the only ones in the neighborhood keeping Mitzvot, it will be all the more difficult to maintain a religious home.

If a young adult chooses to study in a university where there are no observant Jews, he will not be able to maintain his own level of personal observance.

It is so important to choose our friends very carefully. The Rambam wrote that we are who we are based largely on our environment. If it is a negative environment, it will influence us negatively.

There is no getting away from this basic truth. It is almost impossible not to be influenced by friends or the environment. Korach, Datan, and Aviram, are perfect examples of what happens when evil people get together. They bring each other down and create strife. We must learn this lesson once and for all.