Rebellion and Almond Blossoms

Out of the ashes of death and destruction that accompany the downfall of Korach sprouts a peaceful and quiet image of a staff with almond blossoms at one end. . In the aftermath of Korach's rebellion G-d demonstrated Aaron's choseness by making his staff produce fruit while all the other tribe's staffs lay dormant (B'midbar 17). What is the meaning of almonds and blossoms? Why not coconuts or bananas? Why did G-d set up this contest of the staffs?
The first four chapters of Bamidbar are spent setting up an orderly camp: Yehuda sits here, Gad sits here; Yehuda walks first; the Gershonim pick up this piece of the Mishkan, the Kahatim that piece, and so on. By the end of the fourth chapter we have an orderly, well-functioning, well-oiled, G-d serving machine called the Tribe of Israel. The only problem is that this machine hasn't functioned yet. Once it gets moving in chapter 10 the problems start. One of the main problems with the meticulously ordered system is that people just don't accept their roles. Important people don't accept their roles. Miriam and Aaron are not satisfied with the level of connection to G-d that comes with their roles as prophetess and High Priest. They are jealous of Moshe's relationship with G-d and want the same level of connection. Korach is not satisfied with his role in the inner circle of service to G-d. He wants to be the big cheese, he wants Aaron's job. The well-ordered system starts to break down as its leaders express discontent with their roles.
What solution does the Torah offer to help people deal with this destructive jealousy in the aftermath of the Korach tragedy? The Torah offers a pair of reminders, one negative and the other positive. Moshe tells the priests to collect the rebel's firepans to make a covering for the alter. This covering will remind the people of negative consequences of trying to take someone else's role. The second reminder is Aaron's almond-staff. G-d directs Moshe to preserve the staff with the tablets of the covenant as a reminder to the people that Aaron is G-d's chosen servant. A deeper look at the contest of the staffs sheds light on what the Torah thinks is the real problem with all this jealousy.
The Rebbe of Ishbitz has an amazing interpretation of the contest of the staffs. He writes that the staff is a symbol of life. G-d tells Moshe to collect a staff from each tribe to hint to them that in the future Hashem will appear to each person when he or she reaches their true place and doesn't desire after their friends portion. The purpose of the staffs was to tell each person that he has a good portion and he doesn't need to be jealous of Aaron. Each person needs to clarify his own purpose in the world to its depth. According to the Ishbitzer all of the staffs blossomed with flowers to symbolize the each person has a valuable role in the overall plan of creation. Almonds are the first fruit to blossom. Therefore, Aaron's staff grew almonds to show that only Aaron had already reached a refined level of existence and didn't need further clarification of purpose. Everyone else, even the most important tribes like Yehuda need to work hard in this world to clarify their purpose and role in order to bear their own fruit.
The real problem with wanting someone else's life is not the damage this type of jealousy does to the system. Rather, such jealousy is evidence that a person is not connecting to his or her own portion. Hashem has given each of us amazing gifts, each of which produces a particular fruit. Hashem wants these fruits in the world. If we don't connect deeply to our own gifts and use them to the fullest we will never bring these fruits into the world.
We can't do this alone. The parsha hints to us that we need reminders. Rebbe Nahman (Lekutei Moharan 1:60) teaches that we all need to help each other remember who we really are. He calls this showing each other our real "face." When someone falls spiritually asleep it is the job of his friends to remind him who he really is by telling him stories about his life. These stories wake him up to his G-d given purpose in this world. Just like the blossoming staffs reminded each Israelite of his or her special role, we can be reminders for each other of our uniqueness.
The order described in the first four chapters of Bamidbar is not a static, unchanging order. It is an order designed to produce maximum growth. Yes, you have a place in the order. You are given certain gifts by Hashem that you can't exchange. But that is only the beginning. The order of the camp is only a starting point, a structure to hold creativity. It is up to you to use those gifts and develop them and produce the specific fruit that Hashem planted in you. Only you can do that. With some help from your friends.