Category: Weekly Parsha

Parshas Vayishlach 5779

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Parshas Vayishlach (5779)

By Mordechai Dolinsky

After an absence of 21 years Yaakov is at last returning home, having left Esav in a mindset of hatred and is completely ignorant of his present attitude.  Yaakov sends an elaborate, positive message to Esav, communicating the will for brotherly love.  Strangely, in the text of the Chumash we don’t find an answer.  The שליחים did return with a reply from Esav but it was not verbal; עשו הרשע and an army of four hundred marching, pressing forward with hatred and vengeance.  Yaakov receives Esav’s communication of wicked intent and Yaakov’s reaction is clear—he continues to surge on equipped with a presentation of gifts plus Tefilah and readiness for מלחמה.  Amazing, at any moment they can attack.  They finally reached a mutual meeting point, Yaakov bows and the great miracle; Esav’s hatred melts away.    The awesomeness of this great miracle is not quite appreciated as much as it deserves.

We should be זוכה to be inspired.

Parshas Vayeitzei 5779

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Parshas Vayeitzei (5779)

By Mordechai  Dolinsky

29:31 –וירא ה’ כי שנואה לאה—Leah unfortunately was a snuah.  Her predicament, pushed into a forced marriage, her husband really wanting her sister.  It is a peleh to understand why she should be subjected to this.  The pasuk testifies that Hashem feels her tzaar.

We have here a most important axiom of life and the way of the Torah.  One is born at times  with a fate, neshama,  that must be snuah.  Leah could have suffered with this with a rasha, a gangster, murderer.  Hashem gave  it to her with Yaakov and to be the mother of Klal Yisroel.

Ashrayich she zachis, Leah.

Have a wonderful  Shabbos

Parshas Toldos 5779

Parshas Toldos (5779)

By Mordechai  Dolinsky

Something so very difficult in the parsha; Yitzchok has in mind to give the brachos to Esav, and Esav only; he feels him, smells him, to be sure.  Hidden from him, he gave the grand presentation to Yaakov, completely.  The brachos were received, recognized, honored and realized to Yaakov.  How do we begin to comprehend?

A most important factor in the strength of the bracha is actual physical closeness between the giver and receiver of the bracha.  We can observe this physical contact/concept in other areas such as Moshe giving over the leadership of Klal Yisroel to Yehoshua.  Also pertaining to   korbonos we have the physical semichah on the animal.

This has special meaning to us, try to deliver your well-meaning brachos face to face.

Another avenue of thought for the brachos properly reaching Yaakov even if Esav was Yitzchok’s initial address for the brachos  under everything Yitzchok had only one thing in mind, and one thing only and that was Klal Yisroel, its future, its benefit and structure.  And so the brachos went exactly where Yitzchok intended them to with the greatest success imaginable.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and fruitful Chodesh.

Parshas Chayei Sara 5779

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Parshas Chayei Sara (5779)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

I am sure it is in place to observe and to remark that the relating of Yitzchok and Rivka was written, aesthetically speaking, very special, sweet and beautiful.

Yitzchok coming up from the field engaged in composing and davening Mincha.  Rivka just arrived with the shaliach, gracefully slipping off the camel, observing for the first time her zivug.  Such a special simcha for Yitzchok, having gone through the traumatic experience of the עקידה .  Rivka likewise deserved such a special arrangement from Hashem to meet her zivug; having done such a noble courageous act of leaving the security of her family with Eliezer, a complete stranger, out to a great unknown world.  Probably the holiness of her soul enlightened her to escape from the wickedness and impurity of her surroundings.

With all the hardships and difficult נסיונות they had in their lifetimes, הקב”ה the שולט בכל presented them with this momentous occasion with the epitome of joy and happiness.

Have a wonderful, productive week and good Chodesh.

Parshas Vayeira 5779

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Parshas Vayeira (5779)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

18:10,12– Sara heard from strangers that she would be blessed with a child.  The impression on her was not taken seriously enough.  Min HaShomayim she was critisised and Hashem wasn’t pleased with her reaction.

From travelers she should accept?  We answer she still should have had the emuna.  But she surely did; what waw expected of her, the mother of Klal Yisroel, she should feel that every second Hashem gives life and new conditions and inspires new life and of course she will have a new baby.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Lech Lecha 5779

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Parshas Lech Lecha (5779)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

17:7-8—There is something in our parsha that has tremendous significance and meaning and consequence and the full impact is not appreciated.  We have here the parsha of great ברית  , with Hashem declaring the following.  With you fulfilling your  commitment Mine shall be, להיות לך לאלוקים.  First we must understand how is this a special item?  Isn’t the presence of אלוקים  a constant, and one of the most vital and basic foundations of the truth of our belief?  “השם אלוקינו השם אחד”.

We must say that this is an additional revelation and השפעה of the manifestation of אלוקות.  This can be realized in many ways.  Hashem ties this additional connection with Him together with being the gift of being in Eretz Yisroel.  Hashem’s commitment of His part of the ברית is only pertinent in Eretz Yisroel and thus the extra gift of אלוקות does not pertain to חוץ לארץ.  Thus it comes out a very clear and obvious understanding of the Chazal that those who dwell inחוץ לארץ are missing “אלוקות”.

May Hashem bless us to have clarity and an insight to His Chazal.

Parshas Noach 5779

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Parshas Noach (5779)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

7:7 Rashi brings that Noach reflected doubt regarding the coming of the storm by the fact that he was pushed into the Taiva by the force of the rain.  The obvious difficulty is it impossible to relate to any doubt that Noach could have had.

Perhaps…. Noach really knew how low and wicked the world had fallen and understood and accepted Hashem’s decree.  Nevertheless he understood the tremendous churban, how awful the destruction was going to be.  Noach was saying–they deserved it; You decreed it; but it is awful.  Hashem-You are not going to do it–You said you would but You are really not, even though they deserve it.  It was a hope…. it was a hope.

Have a wonderful and inspiring Shabbos.

Parshas Bereishis 5779

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Parshas  Bereishis (5779)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

1:7  On the second day the rakiya was  created, Rashi explains it was really started on the first, but it had to dry which occurred on the second day.  Amazing, amazing, the highest level of anything, the maaseh Bereishis, nissim of nissim, yesh mayayin, Hashem had to let it dry.  From the highest level of creating worlds and worlds, but it didn’t get dry.  The lesson is, Hashem is telling us to do, on any level, just do, asher barah Elokim laasos.

The ohr was first connected to yohm without the idea of time.  Day has many aspects of special accomplishments without the connection of time.

Be inspired, accomplish, use your gift of life.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a month of true accomplishment.