After the story of Korach, God commanded Moshe to take all the pans that were used to bring the incense and use them as a cover for the altar.  The Torah finishes off with a statement: ‘velo yihye kekorach veadosoi’ (and you should not be like Korach and his congregation). Rashi learns that this should be a reminder to us not to be involved in a machloikes (argument).  However, other Rishonim say it’s a lav (a negative commandment in the Torah) that commands us not to have conflict amongst klal yisroel. The Yereim mentions this mitzva in the category of ra lamokom veaino ra labriyos, which means it’s evil to God, but not to mankind. We know however, that machloikes is definitely under the criteria of animosity between man and his friend, so how can we reconcile these two, seemingly opposing ideas?

The Chinuch brings down that a levi that does the avoida (work) of a kohen in the Beis Hamikdash is chayav misah (deserves to be punished by death). The Sefer HaChinuch adds that if a kohen does the avoida of a levi, which is of a lower sanctity then a priests work, the kohen is punishable by death. Moreover, if a levi who’s been designated to guard the gates leaves his post and starts doing the singing which is also part of a levi’s services, he is also punished by death since this wasn’t his designated service.
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