The Zohar states that Korach instigated a dispute because he wanted to transpose right and left.253Zohar I, 17a; ibid., III, 176a. Kabbalistically, the Kohanim (priests) represent the right side (Chesed) of the columns of the sefirot, while the Levites represent the left side (Gevurah). In desiring the priesthood, Korach wanted to transpose the two (see Numbers 16; Tikkuney Zohar #30, 74a; Likutey Moharan I, 46). Therefore, he was reincarnated to be left-handed. His right and left hands were transposed.
In Sefer HaMidot,254"The Book of Attributes,” first published in Mohilov in 1811. Translated into English as The Aleph-Bet Book by Breslov Research Institute. under the category of Emet (Truth), the Rebbe writes: “One who is a liar in a previous lifetime is reincarnated to be left-handed.”255The Aleph-Bet Book, Truth A48. Cf. Likutey Moharan I, 66; Likutey Halakhot, Matnat Shechiv MeRa 2:4; Avenehah Barzel, p. 46, #72; Psalms 144:8.
R' Shmuel of Teplik once told me that when he was traveling with the Rebbe to Novoritch,256See note 183. R' Shmuel of Teplik was the Rebbe's attendant throughout this journey (Tzaddik #48, #50). the Rebbe asked him, “How did you sleep and how did I sleep? I slept on the subject of left-handedness.”
When the Rebbe had slept that night, he was involved in the mysteries of left-handedness. The Rebbe then hinted that this mystery involves the fact that it is said of the tribe of Benjamin that it contained seven hundred left-handed men (Judges 20:16).257See Likutey Moharan II, 77 that Benjamin is tefilin, and tefilin are worn on the left hand.
שָׁמַעְתִּי בִּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְאֶחָד: שֶׁמִּי שֶׁהָיָה בַּעַל מַחֲלֹקֶת בְּגִלְגּוּל הֶעָבָר, אֲזַי כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלְגֵּל נַעֲשָׂה אִטֵּר יָד.
OTHER TEACHINGS
I heard that the Rebbe once said, “One who is contentious in a previous life is reincarnated to be left-handed.”
וְרֶמֶז לַדָּבָר מַה דְּאִיתָא בַּזֹּהַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ (א יז. ח"ג קעו.) עַל קֹרַח, שֶׁהוּא בַּעַל מַחֲלֹקֶת דְּבָעֵי לְאַחְלְפָא יְמִינָא (כֹּהֵן) בִּשְׂמָאלָא (לֵוִי). וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה עָנְשׁוֹ כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלְגֵּל נַעֲשָׂה אִטֵּר יָד שֶׁנֶּחֱלַף אֶצְלוֹ שְׂמֹאל בְּיָמִין.
The Zohar states that Korach instigated a dispute because he wanted to transpose right and left.253Zohar I, 17a; ibid., III, 176a. Kabbalistically, the Kohanim (priests) represent the right side (Chesed) of the columns of the sefirot, while the Levites represent the left side (Gevurah). In desiring the priesthood, Korach wanted to transpose the two (see Numbers 16; Tikkuney Zohar #30, 74a; Likutey Moharan I, 46). Therefore, he was reincarnated to be left-handed. His right and left hands were transposed.
וּבְסֵפֶר הָאָלֶף־בֵּית (ספר המידות אוֹת א' אֱמֶת) כָּתַב בְּעִנְיָן אַחֵר: מִי שֶׁהָיָה שַׁקְרָן בַּגִּלְגּוּל הֶעָבַר וְכוּ' (כְּשֶׁנִּתְגַּלְגֵּל נַעֲשָׂה אִטֵּר יָד).
In Sefer HaMidot,254"The Book of Attributes,” first published in Mohilov in 1811. Translated into English as The Aleph-Bet Book by Breslov Research Institute. under the category of Emet (Truth), the Rebbe writes: “One who is a liar in a previous lifetime is reincarnated to be left-handed.”255The Aleph-Bet Book, Truth A48. Cf. Likutey Moharan I, 66; Likutey Halakhot, Matnat Shechiv MeRa 2:4; Avenehah Barzel, p. 46, #72; Psalms 144:8.
עוֹד שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל מִטֶּעפְּלִיק בְּעֵת שֶׁנָּסַע עִמּוֹ לְנָאוְורִיטְשׁ (הוא שימש את רבינו בנסיעתו זו) וְכוּ', שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ פַּעַם אַחַת: "אֵיךְ יָשַׁנְתִּי אֲנִי וְאֵיךְ יָשַׁנְתָּ אַתָּה?, אֲנִי יָשַׁנְתִּי בְּעִנְיַן אִטֵּר יָד".
R' Shmuel of Teplik once told me that when he was traveling with the Rebbe to Novoritch,256See note 183. R' Shmuel of Teplik was the Rebbe's attendant throughout this journey (Tzaddik #48, #50). the Rebbe asked him, “How did you sleep and how did I sleep? I slept on the subject of left-handedness.”
כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁבִּשְׁעַת שֵׁנָה שֶׁלּוֹ הָיָה עוֹסֵק בְּעִנְיַן אִטֵּר יָד. וְהִזְכִּיר אָז מֵעִנְיַן שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם שֶׁהָיָה בָּהֶם שְׁבַע מֵאוֹת אִישׁ אִטֵּר יָד יְמִינוֹ.
When the Rebbe had slept that night, he was involved in the mysteries of left-handedness. The Rebbe then hinted that this mystery involves the fact that it is said of the tribe of Benjamin that it contained seven hundred left-handed men (Judges 20:16).257See Likutey Moharan II, 77 that Benjamin is tefilin, and tefilin are worn on the left hand.