Based on Parashat Korach
By TM Garret Schmid

The Challenge of Being Misunderstood

You know, when I first read about Korach’s accusation against Moshe – “Why do you exalt yourselves above God’s congregation?” – something hit me. Here’s Moshe, the most humble person who ever lived according to our tradition, being accused of exactly the opposite: grandiosity, self-exaltation, making it all about himself.

Sound familiar? I’ve been there. We’ve probably all been there.

Think about it: Moshe had just spent months leading a difficult people through an impossible wilderness. He’d given up his comfortable life in Midian. He didn’t even want the job in the first place – remember all those excuses at the burning bush? “Send someone else!” Yet here comes Korach, pointing fingers, saying Moshe is on some kind of ego trip.

The Pattern of Projection

What’s really happening here? Was Korach actually projecting? The Midrash tells us he was jealous because his cousin Elitzafan got the leadership position he thought belonged to him. But instead of owning that jealousy and instead of doing the hard work of looking inward, he made it about Moshe being the problem.

I see this pattern all the time. Someone who’s doing deep self-work, asking hard questions, being vulnerable about their struggles – and suddenly they’re labeled as “self-centered” or “making it all about them.” As if genuine self-reflection is somehow narcissistic. As if growth requires you to be invisible.

Moshe’s Response: The Power of Falling on Your Face

Here’s what gets me: when Korach makes this accusation, Moshe doesn’t defend himself. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t list his credentials or remind everyone what he’s sacrificed. The Torah says simply: “When Moshe heard this, he fell on his face”.

That’s radical humility. Moshe understood something crucial – when you’re accused of arrogance, the worst thing you can do is get defensive and prove their point. Instead, he essentially said, “Let God be the judge.”

This is where we all struggle sometimes. Instead of seeing – authentic or false – criticism as opportunities for growth, it is easy to become defensive and justify our actions.

And even if we then manage to stay humble, sometimes people will misread your authenticity as arrogance. They’ll see your willingness to examine yourself deeply and call it self-absorption. They’ll watch you set boundaries and call it grandiosity. Moshe teaches us: you don’t have to convince everyone. Your actions, your consistency, your character – these speak louder than any defense. Be yourself. You are alright.

The Fine Line Between Confidence and Arrogance

But hear me out – Korach wasn’t entirely wrong about one piece. Leadership DOES require a certain confidence. Moshe had to make difficult decisions. He had to stand up to Pharaoh, guide a nation, mediate between God and the people. That takes what we might call chutzpah.

So what was the difference between Moshe and Korach? True leadership serves something bigger than yourself. Korach wanted power for personal gain, status, recognition. Moshe led because someone had to do the job, and he was chosen for it. He was what we call a “reluctant leader” – which paradoxically makes him the best kind.

Not All Criticism Is Valid

The Torah portion also teaches us something uncomfortable: not all criticism is created equal. Sometimes criticism says more about the critic than the criticized. Korach’s rebellion wasn’t really about Moshe’s leadership – it was about Korach’s wounded ego and unprocessed jealousy.

This doesn’t mean we dismiss all feedback. But it means we learn to discern: is this critique coming from someone who wants to help me grow, or someone who needs me to be smaller so they can feel bigger?

The Modern Application

I just thought about this last week at shul, sharing a d’var Torah, putting myself in what I call “the hot chair.” Sometimes people push back, ask hard questions, challenge my interpretations. Is it uncomfortable? Sure. But it is also good – that’s how we learn, how we grow. The rabbi seemed to enjoy watching me sweat up there, probably because he’s usually the one fielding all the questions.

But there’s a difference between constructive challenge and destructive projection. One helps you grow; the other just tries to tear you down. We must welcome the one, but won’t let he other affect us.

Living with Integrity in the Face of Misunderstanding

At the end of the day, Moshe’s story in Korach teaches us this: if you’re committed to growth, to authenticity, to doing the right thing even when it’s hard – some people will misunderstand you. Some will project their own issues onto you. Some will call your humility arrogance and your self-awareness narcissism.

Your job isn’t to convince them otherwise. Your job is to keep doing the work, keep serving something bigger than yourself, and let your consistency speak for itself.

As our tradition teaches: not all pots find their lids easily. But the right people will recognize authentic humility when they see it. They’ll appreciate someone who’s willing to examine themselves honestly rather than someone who just performs whatever makes others comfortable.

Moshe fell on his face, but he didn’t stay down. He stood up. He kept leading. He kept serving. He kept growing.

Maybe that’s the lesson: stay humble, but don’t stay hidden. The world needs people willing to do the real work – even if some people mistake depth for arrogance.