Category: Weekly Parsha

Parshas Naso 5778

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Parshas Naso 5778

by Mordechai Dolinsky

5:12 Rashi brings that the disloyalty and rebellion of the sotah is not only towards her husband but also against Hashem.  The rebellion against the husband is clear from the halacha aspect and even moreso from the natural instinct.  How can the rebellion apply to Hashem, that the pasuk actually puts them together and equates them, especially the aspect of doing an open act of rebellion.

In order for a marriage to be successful there must be present the presence of Hashem, to make it work.  As much as we invest all of our efforts, which we must do, we all know, see and feel”HE” is there.  In a thousand different ways Hashem is there bringing the couple together.  Her rebellion against Hashem is something truly tangible.

The pasuk that Rashi quotes including Hashem is His role as a warrior, a man of action which according to this understanding has very special meaning.

Have a wonderful, meaningful Shabbos.

Parshas Bechukosai 5778

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Parshas Bechukosia (5778)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

26:41  Hashem promises to go along with Klal Yisroel in galus to keep us tachas HaShchinah.

26:11  Hashem says “I will put my Shchinah amongst you, meaning the Bais HaMikdash, and he makes it a special point that He wont’ be repelled by us, a veru deep thought.

We need a special limud that the amailus batorah should be an auxiliary to the kiyum haMitzvos since the amailus, the intense learning, is in reality an end to itself.  Nevertheless it must be a tool to clarify, help us understand and enhance the fulfillment of the mitzvos.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and chodesh of true Torah Fulfillment.

Parshas Behar 5778

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Parshas Behar 5778

by Mordechai Dolinsky

It is absolutely amazingly awesome the Torah inserts, integrates, imposes itself on the basics of our lives especially in areas where one really and is entitled to feel his personal ownership.

The shmittah, absolutely mind-boggling–he has no input on his own land.  Besides the complete reliance on Hashem for his basic sustenance of life itself.  Then we have the point of ownership, selling and buying his land out of his control.  Then there is his personal body completely bound and controlled to the extent he has the right to sell himself and the buyer to what extent he can use the eved Ivri.

This is all a manifestation of our basic belief Hashem Hu HaElokim.  It is not just talk but it is real and we live it in the extremity as a very real committment to the emes Hashem Hu HaElokim.

Have a wonderful, meaningful Shabbos.

Parshas Emor 5778

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Parshas Emor (5778)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

22:3-4  In our parsha we find that the pasuk expresses the term ‘moed’ for Shabbos.  Rashi brings the limud that if one profanes the Yom Tov it is looked upon and considered as chillul Shabbos, and conversely if one upholds the Yom Tov in its completion it is considered as though he glorifies the Shabbos.  The significance of being considered as profaning the Sabbos could be a type of punishment min HaShomayim.  We can perhaps understand it that the essence of Shabbos the dinim of the 39 melachos declares the most essential foundation of emuna in Hashem as the Borei Olam.  This is the open message.  Perhaps we can say that Yom Tov, likewise, has this declaration in the keeping of all the dinim but in a subtle, not open way, and by chas v’shalom profaning is tantamount to being mechalel Shabbos and by  upholding Yom Tov we declare thye positive message of Shabbos.

Have a wonderful, meaningful Shabbos.

Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim

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Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim 5778

by Mordechai Dolinsky

19:4 Rashi.  The Chumash criticizes and speaks down of one that is trying to rely on some object for some assistance; hoping it will assist him in some way and obviously excluding the Yad Hashem.  HIs mind will be perverted and it will turn into a real avoda zara.  How much we must always focus to make sure that Hashem is in the center of the picture.

Even verbal curse directed to parents is punishable with capital punishment.  How vital and critical is gratitude.

Have a wonderful and meaningful Shabbos.

Parshas Shmini

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Parshas Shmini (5766)

By Mordechai Dolinsky

We live in an era where we have a special need for strengthening and reinforcing our emuna.  Of the four creatures the Chumash enumerates having only one of the two signs of kashrus; with the passing of thousands of years since Hashem gave the Torah, and hundreds of new species discovered, no new animal was observed having only one of two signs specified in the Chumash.  This includes the multitude of new species previously unknown that were discovered in Australia.

The laws of kashrus include various trefos which, if understood properly, are explicit true knowledge of the intricacies of anatomy, which according to modern medicine were discovered and understood relatively recently—chizuk!

In our blessing for Rosh Chodesh we should include spiritual success for our endeavors for the forthcoming period.

The nightly sefira should be a source of self-improvement for the assigned sefira of the day.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Parshas Tazria-Metzora

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Parshas Tazria-Metzorah (5778)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

(Tazria 12:6)  There is an awesome Chazal concerning the yoledes that after the different after-birth stages she comes to the Bai HaMikdash to offer her sacrifice obligations and her appearance must be herself on her own.  The Chazal compare this to something of the most unique, striking significance.  Hashem first created Adam and Chava and afterward crowned them with the blessing of being introduced to Gan Eden.  Likewise the yoledes after her giving birth she is blessed with the great zechus to come to to the Bais HaMikdash.  The analogy we can say is Adam and Chava went through a preparation period before being put in the great Gan, likewise the whole birth experience is like a great preparation in personal growth which the climax is the coming to the Shchinah in the Bais HaMikdash for the korbanos.

In life we are put through many growing experiences which climax in some greatness that has been prepared for us min haShomayim which is bestowed upon us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos and a meaningful, productive Chodesh.

Pesach and the Hagadda

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Pesach and the Hagaddah (5778)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

Chacham mah hu omair—we don’t delete the tast of the korban Pesach by eating afterwards.  What possibly could be the great significance or importance that we select this above all halachos to share with him?

The purpose of the mitzvos and life in general is to come close and cling to HKB”H.  We accomplish this through the fulfillment of the mitzvos.  When fulfilling the mitzvos with the true and meaningful intent one would or should be filled with the yearning that the closeness with HKB”H will continue.  However in actuality with the completion of the mitzvah the connection with the kedusha and closeness to Hashem is over.  For all those that are fulfilling the mitzvos for their true purpose of achieving the closeness to Hashem, there is a type of disappointment, a yearning for the mitzva to go on and on.  Behold, there is a mitzvah….a mitzvah that because of its physical actuality perhaps a continuation.  A mitzva involving an act of eating; in a way it is a mitzva like others, a maaseh mitzva, however because the reality of eating is taste and taste can linger on there is an aspect where the seeker of the lasting mitzvah can have fulfillment.  To consume something which would actively push away the taste, which is the continuation of the mitzvah, would of course be looked on negatively.

We should merit of achieve the emunah and bitachon from the Hagaddah and leil HaSeder.  Have a wonderful, meaningful Yom Tov.

Parshas Tzav-Shabbos HaGadol

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Parshas Tzav–Shabbos HaGadol (5778)

by Mordechai Dolinsky

8:2,6  and the Rashis:  The pasuk instructs Moshe to verbally bring Aharon and sons to him and draw them close.  When instructing Klal Yisroel it says–bring them to the Ohel Moed.  And again pasuk 6 it speaks of Moshe drawing them close to him.  As we know, the Shchinah was resting upon Moshe and was there together with Moshe and Moshe was drawing them close to Hashem.

Every day in Nissan are days for closeness to Hashem for us and to relate to the great nissim of Yetzias Mitzrayim.

Have wonderful, meaningful, great Shabbos HaGadol.