Everyone knows what it takes to be a successful politician---good public relations, careful timing, shrewd advisors and the ability to manipulate others. And if they want a prototype to model themselves on, they can look back a few thousand years to Korach.

Korach handled his own public relations, for he was a brilliant orator and skillful at ridiculing his opponents. His timing was perfect---right after the sin of the spies and the decree of wandering and death in the desert, Moses would certainly have been down in the polls and the people ready for a change. His advisors, Doson and Aviram, the original spin doctors, were old hands at stirring up trouble with Moshe. And he knew how to manipulate his supporters, to the point that every one of the 250 of his own rebellious faction thought he could be the next leader.

But this, of course, is not the picture of a true Jewish leader, and that is why Korach was doomed to failure. In fact, a Jewish leader needs none of the chicanery that is the stock in trade of the ordinary politician. At the time of his appointment as leader at the burning bush, Moshe was totally lacking in such qualifications for leadership. His speech impediment made public speaking a nightmare; his timing was way off, as Pharaoh had an iron grip on the Jewish people at that time; as a lonely shepherd in the wilderness he had no advisors; and his only wish was that his brother Aaron should be lead the people instead of him.

Why, then, did G-d choose Moshe, and not Korach, to lead the Jewish people? Because when it comes to true Jewish leadership, selfless devotion to G-d and to the people of Israel are the only credentials that count. And that's something that hasn't changed since the spin doctors of Sinai lost the election and the earth swallowed them up forever.