RABBI'S WEEKLY MESSAGE - Universal Oneness United Faith Canada

June 28, 2025

Rebellion

Greetings friends

We celebrated Dad, we celebrated the change of season and the start of summer, and now we celebrate the birth of a once-beautiful friendship—with the birthdays of two partners in life—Canada and the United States, who share their birthdays with their people and the rest of the world. And like all great friends, they fight. But like true friends, inevitably come back together again.

Whether you are Canadian or American, when you think of those two great friends, they each hold a special place in the hearts, not just of their citizens, but in the hearts of people throughout the world. They stand as the city on the hill of progress, of growth, of free exchange. They are seen as the sanctuary of freedom.

Both have been great celebrations of freedom, a true inalienable right that was handed to man when Moses led the people from the house of slavery in Egypt, but which, every once in a while, we see slipping away. It has always been the most important thing mankind has reached for.

The great enemy, as we have seen, is our fear, and fear is usually a self-created projection of what has not happened or of what might happen. Do not let fear stop you. The struggle of man has always been the struggle for freedom, and it seems we have always struggled. As they say, freedom is not free. It is something we continue to fight for.

This time of year also serves as graduation season. Congratulations to all the grads you know and don’t know. They all put great work into their degrees and deserve to be recognized. But remember, you are always held in the hearts of those who think and care for you, and the key to the heart is love.

The grads represent the youth, the promise, the freedom of tomorrow, not like a world away where the hostages are still kept in prison, almost forgotten, but hopefully not for long now that the world has been reformed and history written. The big and little satans live, and the oppressor’s hold on fear is rapidly diminishing. Perhaps, too, that once great nation will again be free.

We are always striving to improve the conditions of man to be the best they can be, and it is important a voice for the people always exist. We will read about those voices and see how the revolution comes about. It is our reminder to not blindly fear and do nothing but to strive to be a leader in your own life, your own family, and your own right.

This week we are going to read about the first public fight for another freedom, the freedom after freedom.

It centers on Moses’ cousin, a Levite, for whom this parsha is named—Korah. We read about his “rebellion” and another “rebellion” – that by Dathan and Abihu. Both will not be settled by the people but by the intervention of G0d.

Korah is a member of the elite Levites, and he fights for the rights of all the people against Aaron and Aaron’s family’s hold on the priesthood. The other “rebellion” is led by Dathan, a Reubenite, as he fights for the rights of all in self-political determination as opposed to one man rule.

These are not rebellions for power for a group. These are opposed to group rule. These are both rebellions designed to give everyone, everywhere, the same opportunity—both designed to stop elitism. Two rebellions: one of church, one of state. Both with what appear to be great causes, and yet both fail.

Because they are interwoven tales, this reading, along with the great film “The Ten Commandments,” often confuses and makes people think there is one rebellion, but they are separate, and both will be settled by the Lord, by tests and trials, and by faith. The people show the faith of letting G0d deal with their problems, and we do that when we have faith. It is something that comes and goes, but seems to be a part of our genetics when we reach for it.

We are always striving to improve the conditions of man to be the best they can be, and it is important that a voice for the people always exists. We will read about those voices and see how the resolution comes about. It is our reminder to not blindly fear and do nothing but to strive to be a leader in your own life, your own family, and your own right.

The things we are told are the things of history, and there is an old expression that says history is written by the winners. Now that is a fascinating quote. Some attribute it to Napoleon; some to Winston Churchill; some to George Orwell, who has been in the news a lot these past few years; some to Nehru, of jacket fame; and some even to Dan Brown. What is important is that it is true.

This week, we see the biblical consequence of history being written by the winner as we read about Korah, Dathan, and Abihu and the insurrection in the wilderness. It reminds us all to keep open minds and seek the facts.

Enjoy this week’s reading and keep practicing forgiveness, kindness, and acceptance. Use this time to continue to forgive those you need to forgive and ask forgiveness from those you need to seek forgiveness from, and give thanks and celebrate your freedom and joy. Do not succumb to fear, and please feel free to share this audio and video with anyone you think might enjoy it. Of course, enjoy all of our past audio and video episodes available on our YouTube channel. This episode will be posted on our channel; click here to watch the Rabbi David Gellman Show from the 2025 cycle.

If you are one of the people this was sent to by a friend and would like to receive it yourself, please let me know. I will add you to my mailing list.

Thank you all for allowing me into your homes, electronic devices, and into your hearts, as you are all with me in mine.

Be well, be happy, be healthy, be free, be kind, be forgiving, be compassionate, be independent of mind and deed, be mindful of your intentions, and be good to yourself. Continue to celebrate freedom of choice in your life, and do not give in to the fear that is so prevalent, and enjoy the peace that comes from acceptance. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say “hi,” please send me an email. I love hearing from you.

Remember, anytime you do not want to receive these anymore, please send me an email so I can remove you. And know that I truly appreciate you sharing your sacred time with me.

Enjoy and celebrate your life and the lives of others. In doing so, be happy. And may you all sow the seeds of and reap the rewards of peace, love, and miracles, and make sure you also celebrate your unique individuality and your incredible awesomeness.

Continue celebrating love; continue celebrating freedom; send renewal and goodwill out to everyone in the world – it is an energy that cannot be stopped. Be a growing beacon of light, and remember, your world is what you make it. Just wish upon a star, and continue to be a miracle in someone’s life and light the light of love.

Blessings