Category: Devarim

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Ki Sisah – Parshas Para (5762)

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Parshas Ki Sisah – Parshas Para (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our sedra we have the awesome episode of the “chet haegel”.  As part of the “clean up” process the commandment was given to consume a drink made up of the gold of the calf, pulverized and mixed with water.  There is an extremely enlightening explanation of this which can be a valuable tool for our service to Hashem; offered by the Ramban.  The gold of the eigel traveling through our digestive system is eventually eliminated in the form of the feces.  This creates a negative association.  This practice of repulsion is a valuable aid in keeping away from transgressions.

There is so much positive inspiration waiting for us if we can abstain from transgressions.  This is the concept of preparing for Pesach by the purification of the “para aduma”.

Have a wonderful, beautiful Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Vayailech (5762)

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Parshas Vayailech (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The name of our parsha, VaYailech, as is very often, is extremely significant for our current time.

The depth of understanding Rosh Hashana is that as the year comes to its end the whole creation is released from its gear and it is again reset anew. This means that the mechanism that caused anything and everything to exist and function last year has completely terminated and is no longer in existence. The world as we observe it now is what it is because of special Divine Will; not because it continues on as we previously observed it. Sara Imainu wasn’t capable of childbearing—this was changed on Rosh Hashana. Being a classical example of this phenomenon is why this portion is read on that day. The name of our parsha accurately describes this—VAYAILECH—we move on to a new existence.

This actuality is not easy to perceive since generally speaking the creation as we see it mistakenly looks like a continuation, which it is not. The new existence is determined on Rosh Hashana, but for most of us the Heavenly decision is stretched over the ‘10 days of repentance’. These significant days should be understood as a stretched Rosh Hashana.

We should all be worthy to be able to fulfill our purpose in this world; amidst health, financial security, nachas and true simchas hachayim.

A wonderful Shabbos to you all.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Netzavim (5761)

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Parshas Netzavim (5761)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

“Atem Nitzavim” — You are standing today before Hashem. It is Erev Rosh Hashana, we are indeed standing before Hashem. Clal Yisroel, the U.S.A., and the world in general this week have lived through an event, an experience, so awesome, that we can simply know that are standing before Hashem.

In such a circumstance — one can not help but feel awed and experience a lacking of the exact words to say and comfort.

In this era of time, we are without the tools of the tactility to visualize and connect to Hashem in the conventional concept and manifestation of a kingdom and royalty. Our present world is void of the real actuality of Malchus.

With our present current events, above the clouds of smoke, dust, rubble, debris, and carnage, immerses the divine royalty, the divine kingdom and the awesome Malchus Shomayim.

This is the last Shabbos of the year. The Rebbe, Rav Avigdor Miller, z”l always inspired us to make this Shabbos a very special one in every way.

May the Shofar and our Teffilos this Rosh Hashana completely turn over the Middos Hadin to Rachabim Rabim, and bring with it the blessings of the most wonderful prosperous happiest year.

Good Shabbos

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Ki Saitzai (5761)

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Parshas Ki Saitzai (5761)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

In our parsha we have a delicate issue of someone attracted to a non-Jewish captured young lady. Such a great tragedy, to be overcome with false love and infatuation. He allows himself his callous indulgence rationalizing that he is possessed by ahava. Rashi quotes the Chazal that this tragic beginning will likewise end in the tragic relationship developing into hatred. Even our emotion of ahava is Divinely ordained. He was possessed by the love as a test to reject her. He failed and as retribution it will now be Divinely ordained that he will hate her.

We witness an echo and a reflection of this, currently in our society, by the terrible deception in thinking that the main criterion for choosing a marriage partner is solely based on the presence of this feeling of infatuation and false love. True love is cultivated after marriage in the course of years.

As we come closer to Rosh HaShana it is crucial to prepare ourselves for the important mitzva of tikias Shofar. It is highly suggested that we familiarize ourselves with the study of the ten reasons for blowing, enumerated by R’ Saadaia Gaon, found today in many machzorim. One should invest as least a few weeks to study and memorize them and practice integrating these thoughts among the various shofar sounds. It will greatly enhance and give true significance to this most important mitzva.

A lovely Shabbos and a wonderful New Year to all.

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.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5761)

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Parshas Devorim (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The period we are going through the aspect of mourning captures our main focus. There is another phase, however, that needs our attention and that is the ordeal was a ‘tochacha’ a rebuke from Hashem. The fact that the situation of churban, unfortunately, has not changed, means that we are still receiving this tochacha. We now begin the sefer Devorim which Rashi enlightens us to, is a subtle account of the rebuke to Klal Yisroel. Rebuke is something we humans find most difficult to receive and deal with. When attempting to understand this logically it really doesn’t make sense, since we should welcome being enlightened. Mysteriously enough this is our nature. Perhaps part of our efforts towards reversal of our plight and hoping for the redemption we should attempt to be positive to the various items we need improvement in. The Medrash in the sedra 1:9 brings a wonderful blessing for receiving rebuke. We should be zocheh to the geula sh’layma through Mashiach Tzidkainu.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Yom Kippur Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Haazinu (Yom Kippur)

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Parshas Haazinu (Yom Kippur)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The importance of the parsha can be perceived from the words of the Chumash itself in Parshas Vayelech (31:19). “Write this song for yourselves and teach it to Bnei Yisroel, and place it in their mouths”. 31:25—“It shall be that when many evils and distress will be encountered then this song shall speak up as a witness”. One of the outstanding themes is the observation and sensitivity to the events that we are constantly experiencing. This has a special timely meaning as will be explained.

It is clear that the central theme of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur is relating specifically to the ‘Malchus HaShem’. This amounts to superimposing to HaShem, kavyachol, the image, concept and the experiencing of earthly human royalty. This is a combination of awe, fear and admiration. The institution of authentic royalty is contemporarily extinct. Because of this we are faced with a challenge of not having the slightest concept of ‘malchus’ with which to relate to HaShem.

Queen Esther put her life on the line by petitioning for a few words with His Majesty. Bear in mind that this was none other than her husband who she was supposedly so endeared to. This is a startling glimpse at the awesome quality of true royalty and our lack of insight into it. In the Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur Shmoneh Esrei when expressing the yearning for the fear and reverence of the Kingdom of HaShem to be reinstated, the commentaries explain the word “Uvchen” (tain pachdecha) is a reference to the term Esther used when relating to her encounter with King Achashverosh!

How can we relate to the ‘Malchus HaShem’ without having witnessed or experienced it? The awesome grandeur of royalty is void. However it is possible to achieve our connection to malchus through the glorious manifestation of the Malchus Shomayim which is demonstrated through the manipulation of the current events which surround us; the theme of our parsha and very appropo for Yom Kippur whose theme is ‘malchus HaShem’.

A Gmar Chasima Tova for all of us and all of Klal Yisroel.

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