A Question or an Excuse?

Professor Yirmiyahu Branover, a world-renowned scientist, once sent dozens of letters to the Lubavitcher Rebbe filled with deep questions about Judaism and faith. But he never got a reply.

Years later, after a long personal journey and a full return to Tora; beard,sidelockss, and a heart fully committed; he met with the Rebbe in person.

During the meeting, the Rebbe opened a drawer and pulled out all those old letters; with detailed answers written for each one.

Stunned, Professor Branover asked, "Why didn’t you send them to me back then? Maybe I would’ve returned earlier!"

The Rebbe replied, "I don’t answer excuses. Only questions."

That same idea echoes in this week’s Torah portion; Korach.

Korach also came with questions:

"Does a garment made entirely of blue wool still need tzitzit? Does a house full of Torah books still need a mezuzah? Why is Moses the leader; aren't we all holy?"

But these weren’t real questions. They were arguments dressed up as questions.

That's the subtle difference:

A real question comes from a desire to understand.

An excuse comes from a desire to avoid.

Judaism welcomes honest question; when they come from respect, humility, and a will to grow.

But sometimes, when doing the right thing feels hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient, we start asking other questions.

Not because they truly bother us, but because it’s easier than facing the change we know we need.

We distract ourselves.

We call it “thinking,” but it’s really escaping.

So ask yourself this week:

Is it really a question?

Or maybe... it’s just an excuse?