Category: Weekly Parsha

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Masei (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Masei (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi (33:1) brings a parable in the Chumash’s account of the encampments of a king reminiscing with his son about the ordeal of their travels in bringing him for help in the need of medical assistance. In doing so he recalled the various experiences of suffering, problems, trials and tribulations they endured on the many stop offs in their trip. This would mean in terms of the parable that our encampments in the desert had significance towards the improvement of our spiritual shortcomings.

In this framework the significance and concept of the camp is the withdrawal from the normal preoccupations of the regular movement of life. This would mean taking time to give serious thought and evaluation of the issue that needs to be overhauled or fine-tuned and down to earth, practical, realistic plan of action.

The journey itself signifies ready to go forward, full of optimism and the commitment for serious change and to see things in a different, efficient perspective. Our own spiritual journeys should lead us to the spiritual heights and perfection we yearn for.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a month of speedy redemption for Klal Yisroel.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Matos (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Matos (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

From the manner of presentation of the Chumash of the subject of nedarim in a way of showing its prominence and detailed elaboration we can see how vital a matter it is.

What is so unique and outstanding about this that it deserves a special spotlight? Since we don’t practice making nedarim currently because of the fear that we might fall short in fulfilling it we aren’t sufficiently educated to appreciate and understand the function and great benefit of nedarim. By understanding this properly we can derive a perspective that can be of great assistance to our Torah fulfillment today even though we don’t have the nedarim.

The main purpose of the neder is to make something which was permissible, forbidden; to create a distance for ourselves from the actual aveira or the bare border of the fulfillment of the mitzvah. The structure of our Avodas Hashem is such that the main thrust of our ability to stand up to our tests is by the creation and keeping of this distance. The Gemarra strongly criticizes an individual who had an option of avoiding a tempting circumstance but nevertheless put himself in the place of temptation, even though he was able to stand up to the “test” with “flying colors.

So often we fail to live up to the Torah’s demands and requirements and come down sharply on ourselves unjustifiably; for the real guilt was our failure to remove ourselves from this battlefield which could have been relatively easy and accessible to our capabilities.

We don’t have nedarim today but its lesson of keeping our distance calls out loud and clear!! Nelech v’natzliach.

Hashem should put an end to our long galus through the coming of Moshiach. Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Pinchas (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Pinchas (5768)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi in our sedra quotes a Chazal(26:5) that when Klal Yisroel were engaged in establishing the various lineages of the Shvatim the gentiles attempted to lower the esteem and degrade Klal Yisroel by attempting to create a false image that when we were subjected to slavery in Egypt just as the men were tortured likewise the women were abused by the Egyptian men. Thus, they tried to make our establishing of lineage a farce. Therefore Hashem testified to their pureness by placing a “hai” and a “yud” respectively before and after their names.

How can this effectively combat their false accusation? Chazal teach that a name has a definite imprint on the makeup of a person. An individual who carries “yud-kay” on his name will definitely be affected by this imprint.

The famous quote – if Darwin had seen a certain tzaddik he would never have theorized his stupidity as to man’s origin and ancestry.

By placing His name on us Hashem has placed in us awesome greatness. Let’s bring it out. Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Balak (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Balak (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Upon contemplating the epidsode of Bilaam and Balak the degree of their general mentality of spiritual consciousness is amazing. They relate to it as a true reality. This can be said for all who lived in that generation and many generations to follow, Bnei Yisroel and gentiles alike. This is indeed a tool and stepping stone to enable one to understand and achieve a closeness to Hashem.

Contemporarily, and likewise in the recent past generations the sensitivity of recognition of the world of ‘ruchnius’, including the appreciation and significance of giving and receiving brachos has greatly diminished and is almost non-existent. This was probably caused by the great industrial revolution and advancement in research and science, the invention of the microscope, and secrets discovered by x-rays. Everything has to be ‘real’ and to be able to be measured, seen and felt. We have been raised in a generation that many of the true spiritual concepts were uprooted and were labeled superstitious and the blindness of the dark and middle ages; it is the “seeing is believing” age.

Bilaam and company definitely fell into the depths of wickedness but his generation had so much going for them for great spiritual capacities. They had their test and failed. The test of our generation is reinstating the sensory perception of true spiritual values and feelings. This is imperative to truly serving Hashem and keeping His Torah. The key to this is learning certain sifrei mussar and chasidus.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a true kirvas Hashem.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Chukas (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Chukas (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

After the passing of Miriam, Klal Yisrael was lacking water. The miracle that they had the supply in the desert was earned by their high level of emunah. They were falling towards materialism as we can see in their expression of complaint: “We and our animals…”.

The episode of the “mai merivah” was intended to raise their level of belief that the water comes only from Hashem and it can, for that same reason, emerge from a stone. “He who said that oil should burn can do the same to vinegar”.

We must likewise always strengthen our belief in this great foundation.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a fulfilling, uplifting Chodesh.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Korach (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Korach (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Korach in his wicked performance of ridiculing Moshe and Toras Hashem selected the mitzvos of tzitzis and mezuzah. “If techeles is sufficient on one strand of the tzitzis a complete garment of techeles should surely do the trick… A room filled with sefarim should make the placing of a mezuzah on the door unnecessary. From all the mitzvos why should Korach single out these? Was there any sense to his jest?

‘Osos’ and ‘Adius’ are mitzvos which tzitzis and mezuzah are part of that the Torah itself explains that it serves the purpose of testimony to remind us of certain essentials. This is to the extent that some opinions hold that we do not fulfill the mitzvah unless we actually use it practically for this purpose.

Korach used the true purpose of these mitzvos for the logic of his foul ridicule. Korach’s error of course was that the benefit of these mitzvos is only attained by following the strict specifications of the Torah.

This episode should serve us as an inspiration to make use of these precious mitzvos to remind us of what they were intended for–the mezuzah, tzitzis, tefilin, Shabbos, the Yomim Tovim etc. etc..

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a redeeming and fulfilling Chodesh.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Naso (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Naso (5768)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

If we have the sensitivity, we can witness daily the fantastic experience of hashgacha pratis that demonstrates openly and clearly that Hashem is with us and His love for us. This is a magnificent manifestation of the Chazal that Rashi quotes in our parsha on the birkas Kohanim (6:24) on the pasuk “yair Hashem panav elecha”—Hashem will show you a radiant and smiling countenance.

Bakshu Panav Tamid—search for Him and you will surely find Him.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a meaningful Kabolas HaTorah.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Bamidbar (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Bamidbar (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Hashem demonstrates His great love for us in our parsha which is spelled out by His repeated counting of us. It brings with it an awesome responsibility to have a similar love for Klal Yisroel, as we are expected to emulate Hashem, especially when He makes an explicit demonstration.

This subject of being aware of and upgrading our love for our fellow “Yidden” is very much the theme of the present period of sefiras haomer and in preparing for kabolas haTorah.

A productive, time-tested tool of improving our Ahavas Yisroel is to concentrate for a few moments on the positive traits of an acquaintance; this may include a spouse.

Have a wonderful Shabbos, a month of bracha and hatzlacha, surrounded by wonderful people.

Vayikra Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Bechukosai (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Bechukosai (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi in the beginning of the parsha explaining the words “Im Bechukosai” quotes the Torah’s expectations of us for intensive, devoted toil in Torah study.  What is shocking is that this requirement the Torah puts on all of Klal Yisroel contrary to the common error that this type of learning is incumbent solely upon elite Torah scholars.  This intensive Torah study is part of the minimum Torah observance which pertains to all, like Shabbos observance and Tefilin.  This is such a serious and significant commandment that the consequence of not fulfilling it as Rashi quotes brings a frightening list of consequences including bringing one to a state where he prevents others from fulfilling the Torah and actually having a dislike for Talmidei Chachamim and eventually leading to much worse.

The fulfillment brings awesome brachos for the person himself and all Klal Yisroel.

R’ Shimon Bar Yochai’s unique insight in his deep comprehension of the ways and attributes of Hashem we can say was a result of his awesome will  to come close to and understand Hashem; which is something we can all strive for.  R’ Shimon, your great Yahrzeit day should bring blessings to all Klal Yisroel and the gilui of the great light of Moshiach.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Shmos Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Behar (5768)

Bs”d

Parshas Behar (5768)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash (34:3) in our parsha relates that Hillel HaZakain expressed that serving breakfast to a guest at his home really meant serving himself.  He actually regarded his physical being and neshama as separate entities.  This is only possible by one’s awareness and absolute focus on his spiritual neshama.

This may explain how he reached the highest level of control with regard to anger that not only was the anger completely self-contained but nothing ever fazed him.  Also the ideal of never creating discomfort to another which he crystallized and fulfilled, was only made possible by the absolute focus on the neshama; this is “the” key for attaining true Ahavas Yisroel.

Truly, a timely topic for this period of sefiras haomer—a special time for growing in all our human relationships.

Have a wonderful and “warm” Shabbos.

July 2025
S M T W T F S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

The Weekly Parsha

You can also sign up for specific lists:

Donate To Rabbi Dolinsky’s Kollel in $




Donate To Rabbi Dolinsky’s Kollel In ₪




Archives