Month: December 2000

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas VaYishlach (5761)

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Parshas VaYishlach (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our Parsha we have the awesome, frightening rendezvous of Yaakov Avinu and his hate laden revengeful, all-powerful brother, Esav.  Esav made a strong commitment to destroy; the concern of a pending catastrophe was real.  However, Yaakov and his family came through this terrifying ordeal unharmed.  What caused the change in Esav’s wicked program?  Could it have possibly been (32:15) “The she goats and the he goats; the ewes and the rams”.  Did the years and years of his bursting with boiling venom disappear with the gift of “nursing camels and their young; the cows and the bulls”?  Can the terrible animosity dissipate with the “she donkeys and the he donkeys”?  Something tremendous and awesome, yet subtle and unassuming, transpired; where and what was it?

The Pasuk (33:3) relates that Yaakov bowed to Esav seven times.  His sons, the shvatim, also bowed and were looked upon by Hashem with dissatisfaction for this act.  Yet, strangely enough, Yaakov Avinu was not criticized.

The sefer Nefesh HaChayim (shaar 3:!2) states that by establishing and concentrating in one’s heart the principle of the supremacy of HaShem, that there is nothing in the world with any intrinsic significance except HaShem and His power, one can unshackle himself from any potential threat of danger.  The power and strength of this protection is in correlation to the strength of one’s ability to focus on this thought.

The Vilna Gaon explains that the success of Queen Esther was due to the control she exercised over Achashverosh by concetrating on this principle.  While appearing to appease the king and appealing for his pity, her mind was involved in concentrating on “ein od milvado”.  HaShem is the Supreme Ruler, He is everywhere and controls everything.  “You Achashverosh don’t have any real power or existence”.  She was actually exercising control over him, which was determined by the intensity of her ability to focus on this true realization.

The extreme difficulty with this is quite evident.  It is the paradox of seeming to be concerned and obligated to the “physical”, and simultaneously giving it no significance in your mind.

We can now venture to say that when Yaakov Avinu appeared to be bowing down to Esav, his true focus was on “ein od Milvado”—Hashem the Supreme Ruler.  Yaakov was in actuality “wrestling” with Esav and subduing him under his control with these thoughts.  Amazing, as Rash quotes (33:4) “R’ Shimon ben Yochai declared—it is a fact that Esav hates Yaakov.  However, that moment his pity was aroused and he kissed Yaakov with all his heart”.  That was some control that Yaakov exercised!

When saying “HaShem Echad” twice daily in Shma Yisroel, we are in essence engaging in this mental activity of “ein od milvado”.  Who knows how many miracles happen to us because of this.

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Vayeitze (5761)

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Parshas Vayeitze (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

One of the greatest perplexities in the Chumash is the great deceit Lavan put over on Yaakov Avinu; presenting him with Leah instead of the agreed upon Rochel.  This seems like something that anyone could have prevented to say nothing of Yaakov Avinu the great pillar of the wisdom of Torah.  The question is augmented considering the fact that Yaakov Avinu suspected this maneuver from Lavan—as Chazal relate was his intention in specifying, “Rochel Bitcha HaKetana”.  The question is so awesome that we are uncomfortable and almost ashamed to express it.  It seems it would have been reasonable for Yaakov Avinu to make more of an effort not to be the victim of Lavan’s trickery.

Lavan and his little trick were a success as he managed to slip Leah in as the Kallah.  And was he happy, this probably was the most joyous wedding with Lavan doing a “kezatzke” on the table.  DANCE LAVAN DANCE!  Lavan was the winner and Yaakov such a loser.  What came out from this great “loss”?  A Reuven, Shimon, Levi,Yehuda, Yissachar and Zevulun.  DANCE LAVAN DANCE!  The Kohanim, the Leviim, the lomdai Torah and their supporters, and Malchus.

Yaakov obviously was to be married also to Leah, to produce this major part of Klal Yisroel.  These crucial tribes were to come out from them, something which was hidden from Yaakov Avinu.

One of the most difficult areas in Avodas HaShem is the balance between bitachon, placing our confidence in and reliance on HaKadosh Baruch Hu and the amount of effort that we are expected to expend.  This difficulty lies in both action and the theoretical understanding.

The Brisker Rav ztz”l had a reputation of being nervous by nature.  Once during a bomb raid in Brisk he was caught together with a great Chasidishe Rebbe in a fragile bomb shelter.  If there would have been a “direct hit” it wouldn’t have afforded them any protection and would have been fatal for them.  The Brisker Rav had a completely calm and peaceful disposition.  The Rebbe couldn’t help remarking that is was so unlike the Brisker Rav’s usual nervous self.  The Brisker Rav replied: “People have a false impression that I have a nervous nature.  The responsibility to judge correctly the amount of effort that is required in different situations makes me nervous.  In this situation there is absolutely nothing we can do and no decisions to make; just to be calm and rely completely on Hashem.”

Yaakov Avinu, our source of emes, our great light and pillar of Torah, was confronted with the great ordeal to decide what the parameters of his own efforts should be.  He concluded: include in the marriage contract, Rochel Bitcho HaKetana;  no radar, no closed circuit T.V., and no candles.  This was the psak of daas Torah.  Think of the consequences if Yaakov would have realized that it was Leah; DANCE LAVAN DANCE!  Because of his confidence in HaShem, we have Torah, Kehuna and Malchus.

Hashem show us the way.

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Toldos (5761)

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Parshas Toldos (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our Parsha we have the birth of Yaakov Avinu, the great light and pillar of truth.  We also have making a dramatic entrance into the world his brother Esav who symbolized and represented the exact opposite, darkness and falsehood.  It is important to understand what the significance of the account of the amount of hair Esav had when he entered this world was.  It was so relevant that it had to be mentioned in our holy Torah.  Even more puzzling is that the phenomenon was of such magnitude that it warranted to be commemorated by the name he was crowned with by the general populace.  A name has intrinsic significance since it defines the essence.  Esav’s name was a reflection of his hair, which sheds even more light on its significance and reinforces the puzzle.

There is a very interesting phenomenon that can be observed in the creation concerning hair.  Amongst its many functions we find that hair actually plays a role of deception.  The epitome of this can be seen from the aura of grandeur radiated by the majestic look of the “king” of the animal world, the male lion.  This fierce, awesome, image is created by his mane which is really false and misleading.  The truth can be seen from his female counterpart who, missing the misleading fur, looks like a simple, big cat.   Another example is the growth of hair in mankind on the face of the mature male, obviously giving an aura of fierceness.

The Medrash (63:8) relates that after the name Esav was given Hashem Himself revealed the real and true significance of the name—“HOI SHAV’—empty and false.  The deception is so misleading that we need Hashem Himself to enlighten us.

This all has special significance to us living through this last period of Galus under the auspices of Esav.  How wary we must be not to be deceived.

Their religion, the millions of devout looking Gentiles, the impressive temples of worship—how we suffered from their wickedness and false righteousness.  Their medical profession and related Institutions, supposedly imbued with a high level of an idealism of kindness to humanity….  Their educational institutions of higher learning representing supposedly the ideal of high intellect and the pursuit of wisdom….

Esav’s hairy birth appearance is truly significant; a mere newborn infant giving the false impression of a mature adult—beware!

HaShem open our eyes to see the truth always.

December 2000
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