Page 21 - DAAT-HAIM-2

Rabbi Chaim Walkin

Sefer Da’at Chaim

32nd ma’amar

alternatively, if the sin was “superficial” to his soul as it did not derive
from his true inner essence and does not reflect a corrupt inner essence
- then the essence of this person and his level in Gehinnom are also
determined by the measure of the sins he committed and the level of
their severity. In simple words, when the sin he commits emerges
from his inner essence his punishment and level in Gehinnom are
proportionally greater and more severe. And if his sins are merely
externally superficial to the essence of his soul, then so too his level
and punishment in Gehinnom is proportionally less severe.

Now we come to the point of Chazal’s commentary regarding “an
elevated refuge in Gehinnom” on one hand, and “a place deep in
the depths of Gehinnom” on the other hand. “For those people who
violate the Will of HaKadosh Baruch Hu a place deep in Gehinnom is
prepared for them,” these are the people who commit sins that originate
from an inner source that is utterly evil and corrupt. Therefore, in
proportion to the measure of the severity of their sins and breaches that
originate from their evil and corrupt essence, so too is the measure of
their punishment and level in Gehinnom. And since they themselves
are “deeply rooted and bonded” to their innermost essence of sin and
corruption – so too is their being in Gehinnom “deeply rooted and
bonded,” and their place in Gehinnom is deep and rooted.

But that is not so of people who are not immersed deeply into their
sins, and their breaches do not originate from an inner essence that
is evil and corrupt - their place is not in the depths of Gehinnom
but rather their place is exterior to it in proportion to the measure of
their sin which is also superficial. The sin of the sons of Korach did
not originate from an inner soul that was corrupt, as explained by
the Tzadik Gaon Rabbi Reuven Melamed ZT”L in his sefer “Melitz
Yosher,” that even though the sons of Korach were partners in the
conflict, their actions did not originate from an inner source that was
evil, as they were merely drawn into the conflict but they themselves
were only superficial bystanders. Therefore, so too the place that was
designated for them in Gehinnom was not in its depths but instead was
in an elevated place of refuge within it.

This is the meaning of the words of Rashi “The sons of Korach did not
die. Initially they were in collusion with the conspirators, but when

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