Month: August 2001

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Ha’azinu (5762)

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Parshas Ha’azinu (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi at the beginning of the parsha sets the tone for the whole sedra. The events of the world testify and participate in the responsibility of the commitment of Klal Yisroel. An awesome manifestation of this is what the world, the United States and Klal Yisroel has been witness to and experienced in Manhattan.

On one hand the wounds are too raw and it may be too premature to search for the Divine lessons. On the other hand the tragedy is so spoken about and the videos replayed there is the fear that in the near future it will be repulsive to mention the subject.

There are two ways the truth and its vital lessons are clouded and difficult to access. Sometimes they are hidden and hard to see and sometimes they are so obvious they miss our proper attention and attentiveness. As a wise man once said things are hidden from us by being under our nose. The lesson many have derived is the realization of the false confidence place in the U.S. and its supposed infallibility. Are we remaining with the disappointment like deflated balloons or are we refocusing our faith, emuna and bitachon in Hashem?

The lesson is too awesome and precious to be chas v’shalom lossed. Have a wonderful, meaningful Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Shoftim (5761)

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Parshas Shoftim (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash in our sedra brings the pasuk in Mishlei: “Lech el nemala otzel”—motivating and directing us to observe the ant and be inspired from his diligence, commitment and honesty.

One way of understanding the concept of learning from an ant is that we should have the sensitivity, that by just observing an exemplary demonstration of admirable traits or practices should inspire and motivate us to emulate and adopt it. The Chazal tell us this principle is so vital that they defined a person with wisdom as someone who has feelers out to learn from everyone. “Aizeh hu chacham halomed mikol odom.” The Gemara cites assorted admirable traits we are expected to learn from various gentile nations, some of whom were our enemies and actually possessed many evil traits. Nevertheless, their admirable characteristics the Chazal instructed us to learn from and emulate.

There is, however, another concept in learning from the ant and other animals as Chazal point out we should likewise learn from. Where do these creatures acquire the admirable character, traits, and actions? It is certainly not a conclusion of philosophical thoughts of ideas and not something passed down in their tradition. It is obvious that it was Divinely programmed into their brain and nervous system. Just as Hashem injected into the brain of a spider the complicated ability to construct a web which is the absolute marvel of the most advanced and sophisticated engineers, and the art of the beaver to construct a dam.

By observing these admirable traits that were Divinely programmed into the creation, we can project how many marvelous and admirable traits and characteristics we have contained within us that were likewise Divinely placed.

We find ourselves presently in Elul, the time of the year for rejuvenation and rehabilitation; a time for inspiration to weed out bad traits and rebuild our spiritual anatomy. The knowledge that we possess within ourselves the positive qualities is very reassuring, motivating and inspiring to accomplish the work cut out for us for the month of Elul.

In the generations of the past our forefathers stirred up great spiritual storms and upheavals and in the course of Elul made milestones of positive accomplishments. In our present-day weak generations we are frustrated at the lack of ability to reach the great realizations of our ancestors. I would suggest that we set for ourselves modest goals; small but concrete commitments for self-improvement in the areas we perceive ourselves needing upgrading.

We hope and pray the special z’chus and power of Elul bring us success and a blessing of a wonderful New Year for us and for all Klal Yisrael.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Re’ai (5761)

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Parshas Re’ai (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

This Shabbos is a very special one—mivorchim Chodesh Elul. The Shabbos brings a bracha to the Rosh Chodesh which brings bracha to the whole month which in turn brings bracha to its culmination—Rosh HaShonah—which will bring bracha to the whole next year ‘haboh oleinu litova’.

We hope and pray to be able to “use” Elul to uplift ourselves in allthe areas of Avodas Hashem.

Our Parsha Re’Ai, to see, there are so many things we can see with our eyes clearly that can help us in our avodas Hashem and bring us successfully to fulfill our purpose. There was an agnostic in Vilna in the time of the Gaon and the Gaon’s talmidim asked him why he doesn’t use one of his various powers to “show up” the fellow and help him see that he is wrong. The Gaon replied, pointing to the table in front of him, I can put the whole “maareches shomayim”, the sun and moon and all the celestial bodies down right here on the table but it won’t do a thing for him, he is not interested. How much we must attempt to assure that WE ARE really interested so that we will be capable of seeing the open demonstrations that constantly surround us. It will give us the strength, the conviction and the clarity to successfully fulfill the purpose of our existence and bring bracha to our lives, to Klal Yisroel and the whole Creation.

A gut Shabbos, a gut Chodesh and a wonderful year.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Voeschanan (5761)

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Parshas Voeschanan (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

If we tried to crystalize our whole ‘yahadus’, everything in the ‘nigleh’, the opened and obvious, and nistar, the holy secrets, and point to the pasuk that expresses the essence of everything, we have it our parsha. “Shma Yisroel Hashem Elokainu etc.”

The greatest perplexity is that this declaration deserves the utmost of our attention, focus and fanfare. It would be appropriate to commence the Chumash with this declaration or at the minimum put it in a place of honor with its deserving introductions with the royal, majestic respect that is coming to the most profoundly significant statement in the universe. Instead we find it sort of slipped in, so inconspicuously. The profound lesson is that Hashem, the Melech Malchei Hamlachim, the Creator of the whole universe, covers himself, and hides himself. Any human that wants Hashem must search and seek.

Hashem, reveal Yourself through the geulah sh’layma and Mashiach Tzidkainu.

August 2001
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