Month: December 2015

Parshas Vayechi

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Parshas Vayechi (5776)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Something very important takes place at the end of the parsha 50:3 which goes unnoticed, with the passing of Yaakov Avinu. We find that the mitzriim were extremely emotionally affected by what they understood as a great loss. How they showed their reaction was actually mind-boggling. ויבכו אנשי מצרים שבעים יום—the Egyptians cried for seventy days! Just the idea of the goyim crying for one day, just one cry, real tears flowing out of their eyes, old and young, a real total breakdown caused by a real tragedy. They obviously had a real understanding and feeling that something very deep, of supreme significance has occurred by the loss of Yaakov Avinu. The funeral procession, upon reaching the place גורן האטד experienced again a great emotional breakdown. They all went into great mourning for seven days. One would suppose that the most involved would be Yosef and his brothers and their families. However, the ones that were most extremely affected were the מצריים and as a result the כנענים renamed the location אבל מצרים.

What a deep and powerful eye-opening lesson this is for us, an explosion of light. We contemplate—what possibly could bring the entire Egyptian nation to the point of bitter tears? We must say that they had a true insight, vision, clarity of the truth, that every single thing they have in life comes through the גדול בישראל; they would be missing without the gadol something needed for every fiber of life, every fiber of their bodies, their very existence. They were tuned into the real emes. Where did they get it from, from where could they have received the great truth? This is the foundation that we as Klal Yisroel believe in. Perhaps it was one of the great gifts of חכמה that Avraham Avinu gave the מצריים when he was in Mitzrayim leaving it to be ingrained in their souls.

This gives us a great chizuk, inspiration to appreciate our Gedolim, yearn for them, and follow them. May they be granted long life.

Parshas Vayigash

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Parshas Vayigash (5776)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

45:14: The Chumash opens on one of the most emotional, dramatic scenes in history—Yosef’s revelation. It relates how Yosef and Binyamin cried on each other’s shoulders. Rashi explains that the giant explosion of emotion was an expression of sadness over both churbanos Bais HaMikdash. This is an insight from Chazal but Rashi is telling us that this is the simple pshat in the pasuk. Isn’t there enough meaning or sufficient reason for the special surge of emotion of the two brothers, sons of Rochel, and Binyamin not being in the mechira, can’t it mean its simplicity. The answer is in the next pasuk. וינשק לכל אחיו—this was the real explosion of the simple emotion. He kissed all the brothers, the simple love was the same, despite all the strife and the ordeals, Yosef loved them all greatly. All that went on was only serving Hashem, but under everything it was the greatest sincere love.

Loving our fellow yedidim is one of our greatest tests and highest fulfillment. Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Mikaitz

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Parshas Mikaitz (5776)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

There are no words and no way to express the awesome סעיתא דשמיא that Yosef experienced once that the hashgacha, הקב”ה, decided his journey through the tunnel of darkness had ended. The level of his yeshuah, his success, his greatness, was complete immeasurable. Yosef earned it with his mesiras nefesh.

Some of the greatest gifts of Hashem are not always appreciated and their depths and awesomeness are not realized. Paroh’s appointing of Yosef to the position mishneh l’melech is incomprehendable for many reason. It might be a diyuk 41:37 Paroh’s appointment was O.K. for him and his servants—what happened to the chachamim and chartumim? Possibly it was only to his avadim because it made no sense. Yosef earned, Klal Yisroel earned the nissim of Chanukah. We are earning, and let’s keep earning.

Have a wonderful Shaabos. Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh.

Continual Chanukah Inspiration

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Why didn’t Chazal initially institute the concept of mehadrin which is to change the amount of candles being lit each day? The truth is for the essence of פירסומי ניסא one candle a day is sufficient to proclaim the great miracle. Regarding the eight days of Chanukah, each day has its own significance and greatness. The changing of the amount of candles each day is to bring to our attention to focus on each day–that each day is a יום טוב בפני עצמו, to be inspired, to be enlightened and to be motivated to come close to Hashem. Use it, use it, use it.

A freilichen Chanukah.

Parshas Vayaishev

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Parshas Vayaishev (5776)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Perhaps the greatest difficulty I ever encountered in the Chumash appears in this parsha. Yaakov, after witnessing the awesome hatred the shvatim had towards Yosef, nevertheless sent him on a suicide mission, and so it surely was. As it turned out when the encounter took place the shvatim implemented exactly what was expected. What was especially difficult to understand was that there was absolutely real reason to send Yosef. The greatest פלא was how and why Yosef subjected himself to this. Does kibud av stand above such a situation?

The brothers were jealous and had the great animosity for the special attention, admiration and love that Yaakov showered on Yosef but the truth was that this was not all small personal favoritism in any way. It was absolutely only for Hashem and Klal Yisroel. For the borthers it was a nisayon and it was possible for them to rise to the challenge. Yaakov had the greatest opportunity to prove this and it was so important for them to understand that it wasn’t a personal favoritism that he sent Yosef to prove this. There was no way in the world he could have done this in a better way. If there was a single drop of petty favoritism on Yaakov’s part it would have been totally impossible for him to send Yosef.

This seems to me as a דבר אמת and I thank Hashem for the insight.
Have a wonderful Shabbos and a significant, meaningful, freiliche Chanukah.