Category: Weekly Parsha

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Lech Lecha (5768)

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Parshas Lech Lecha (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi in our sedra quotes an extremely significant Chazal, the extent of which might be misunderstood or overlooked.  (15:5) Rashi says that Hashem lifted Avraham above the stars, which means that he was no longer under the influence of the conventional order of this world.  Avraham and Sara in actuality of the order of the world could not have children together; Sara lacked the physical capability.   Hashem removed them from being subject to the order of the world, now under a unique, direct Divine influence.  Yitzchak, their son, and all his progeny is composed of a completely different fiber than all mankind.  So it is with everything concerning all aspects of his existence and that of the nation that emerged from him, Klal Yisroel—us, forever.   Yetzias Mitzrayim, existing in the desert for forty years, entering and living in Eretz Yisroel, and the Bais HaMikdash.  An example, abstaining from agricultural activities for the duration of the Shmittah year for all mankind would be comparable to absolute suicide on a national level.  For us it was an actuality of our life and existence.

Our unique source of existence is the root of the demands that the Torah places upon us and the responsibility of its fulfillment.  We should all have success in accomplishing this.

The importance of the power of bracha which Klal Yisroel possesses can be observed by its placement of priority in Hashem’s initial contact with Avraham Avinu (12:3).  Why then do we find many of our great leaders including the Chofetz Chayim “play down” and not be effusive in their willingness to give brachos.  The receiving of a bracha is really secondary to establishing our own personal contact and relationship with Hashem.  Perhaps our leaders wanted to demonstrate their objection to what they observed as a lack of requesting our needs from Hashem directly and thereby creating this all-important and crucial tie with our Creator.

Have a wonderful, fulfilling week with brachos and hatzlachos.

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Noach (5768)

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Parshas Noach (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Why did Noach have an inner issue with himself to enter the Taiva to the extent that Chazal regard him as “mikatnei amana”?

The ark as we imagine it was a symbol of security, the “rock of Gibraltar”.  In the light of the true actuality of the mabul the taiva offered no real protection; amounting to someone in a Jumbo falling from the sky and has a chicken feather to assist him.

One can easily miss the awesome dimension of the miracle of the taiva, likewise in our own daily lives we must search and focus on the constant consistent miracles bestowed upon us from Above.

Have a month of bracha v’hatzlacha and a wonderful Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Nitzavim – Vayelech (5767)

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Parshas Nitzavim – Vayelech (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Just as Chazal predicted as the galus progresses before the geula the darkness is compounded. The truth becomes more obscure and the true fulfillment of the Will of Hashem in regard to human relationships and our obligations to Hashem fall short. We yearn and search for the true fulfillment of the Will of Hashem. The key to achieve this is the name and theme of our parsha—Atem Nitzavim lifnei Hashem—to establish the realization that we are standing before Hashem will enlighten us to understand our true obligations to Him and make us understand the dimensions of our duties to our fellow man.

My Rebbe, Rav Miller zt”l always taught us that “all’s well that ends well”; this is the last Shabbos of the year and we should make it the best.

Have a wonderful ‘best’ Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parsha Re’ay (5767)

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Parsha Re’ay (5767)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

Rav Miller zt”l always brought to light for us that on this Shabbos, mevorchim Rosh Chodesh Elul even in the market places of the simple laymen they shuddered at the realization of the forthcoming month of Elul. Our Rosh Hashana is a reflection of our Elul and consequently the coming year of 5768 habaah aleinu l’tova.

Re’ay; see, sensory perception, har grizim and har aival; sensory perception.

The parsha repeats what was said previously and the repetition creates sensory perception. Rav Miller always told us to attempt to picture olam haba—sensory perception.

Have a wonderful Shabbos, a wonderful Chodesh and a wonderful year.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Aikev (5767)

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Parshas Aikev (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

It is amazing how going through the sedra every year brings new obvious insights overlooked in previous years.

The commandment to make an aron for the luchos was only given for the second luchos (10:1). The purpose of the ark was for the protection and care of the luchos so that they should not be harmed.

Perhaps we can explain that Moshe Rabainu had surely planned to make an aron in which to place the first luchos, on his own. The aron represents and symbolizes an effort one makes to protect himself from spiritual downfall. The second luchos were given after Klal Yisroel had the great downfall of the chet haeigel. It was obvious that greater effort and investment was necessary to protect themselves from a repeat of being caught in the snare of the evil inclination. Both the first and second luchos would have had an aron. The only difference between the two was that the second was accompanied by the positive commandment from Hashem.

And so in this commandment there lies the advice for us to go out of our way to insure ourselves and protect ourselves from further downfalls after having experienced them.

Hashem should open our eyes to the truth always.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim — Shabbos Chazon (5767)

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Parshas Devorim — Shabbos Chazon (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash in our parsha (1:1) brings an extremely enlightening and inspiring Chazal. Moshe Rabeinu overcame his speech disability by his commitment to teach Torah for which he obviously needed the ability to speak. The blessing of the ability came after his commitment.

We hesitate to make our complete commitments to Hashem for the fear of lack of ability and tools for the fulfillment. With the absolute desire to fulfill the Will of Hashem we receive the wherewithal to accomplish.

Have a fulfilling week and a meaningful Tisha B’Av.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Matos – Masai (5767)

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Parshas Matos – Masai (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

We have in our parsha a great lesson of how critical it is to have the right intentions at the outset of embarking upon new endeavors. Rashi quotes the Chazal (33:51//2) that it was critical for Klal Yisroel when crossing the Yarden to enter Eretz Yisroel to keep in mind that they were to destroy the edifices of avoda zara.

Bnai Gad and Reuven requested the “aiver hayarden” to enable them to be shepherds which allowed them more time for their spiritual growth. This places our focus on time which is the very essence of life. Just as we see fit to hire accountants to assist us with our monetary issues, it is equally imperative to have a sensitivity in using our time.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Pinchas (5767)

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Parshas Pinchas (5767)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

We are presently entering ‘bain hametzorim’, the annual period designated by Chazal to focus and mourn for the dual catastrophe that befell our Bais Hamikdash and sent us to the great galus which presently prevails. Before embarking on the mourning, it might be wise to invest energy in the appreciation of the Bais Hamikdash which we are missing. This can be accomplished by the evaluation of the mikdash me’at which we presently possess in the form of our ‘botai knessios’ and ‘botai medrashos’.

Before entering a Shul or place of learning one should pause a moment to consider that he is about to enter a location embedded with the shchinah, kedusha, and bombarded with “ruchnius radiation”.

In light of this we can see the obvious ‘hachgacha pratius’ that our parsha focuses on the Bais Hamikdash and the awesome service throughout the special occasions of the year with which we connect with Hashem, our Creator. We should see the geula sh’layma, speedily in our days.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Balak (5767)

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Parshas Balak (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Bilaam was seemingly given the green light and Divine approval to carry out his goal to embark on a course to harm Klal Yisroel. It is therefore difficult to understand why he was so severely criticized for his wicked agenda. The explanation is that the obstacles that presented themselves by repeatedly meeting resistance was a Divine message for him to back down and reverse his program. This is very consistent with something often quoted in the name of the Chazon Ish that after several unsuccessful attempts to dial a telephone number one should take this as a Divine sign to desist.

This brings to the surface one of the most critical and crucial issues of our trials and tribulations in fulfilling the Torah. We are intensively engrossed in a vital dvar mitzvah that has far-reaching consequences and find ourselves up against obstacles; we hear the idealist voice calling out that because of the importance of the mitzvah the satan is presenting difficulties for us to overcome. This is our test to stand up to. On the other hand, are these Divine signs for us to back down and desist??….
It is of utmost importance that we recognize the urgency and difficulty of this issue and to cry out to Hashem for His Divine assistance. We should be zocheh to have the insight to fulfill the true will of Hashem.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Chukas (5767)

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Parshas Chukas (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

It is common knowledge that the area of tumah and taharah belongs to the category of Torah that is beyond our sense of logic. There is a meaningful and significant medrash in our parsha (19:8) that crystallizes the idea. “Lo hames mitamai……the deceased doesn’t defile nor does the water cleanse. Hashem Himself designates the status.

Our whole Torah is nothing more than the ordinances of Hashem. The other areas have some aspect of logic and human understanding. Perhaps this area of tumah and tahara, defilement and cleansing, was selected to strengthen the concept that the very essence of the gift of life is solely in the hands of Hashem and to inspire us to keep us in the state of constant awareness of this principle.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

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