Weekly Parsha

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.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Korach (5767)

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Parshas Korach (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Rashi quotes (16:1) the Chazal that the members of shevet Reuven were influenced by Korach because of the close proximity of their geographical location and this was responsible for their downfall. Rashi quotes the Chazal “oi l’rasha v’oi lishchayno”—woe is to one who dwells near the wicked—and applies it to shevet Reuven.

What is extremely difficult to comprehend is that this Chazal is taken to mean a criticism for choosing a dwelling place near the wicked. In the case of shevet Reuven, however, their geographical location was designated by Divine instruction and Chazal’s advice should have no application here.

This reveals to us that the meaning and lesson of Chazal also includes a person finding himself, due to circumstances beyond his control, in the proximity of the wicked and undesirable. The directives of the Chazal still apply in the form of positive action to protect oneself, one’s family, and everyone under his sphere of influence from the negative input. “Bitachbulos taaseh milchama”—with wise planning and precaution make great effort to overcome negative influence and Hashem will surely give special Divine assistance for success.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Shlach (5767)

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Parshas Shlach (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

In our parsha we have the mitzvah of tzitzis which was given to us as part of a series of mitzvos whose purpose is to serve as a source of reminders of true values and our life’s purpose. Perhaps we might find the hints that Rashi and other sources suggest that tzitzis are symbolic of a bit far-fetched. For example:
The gimatria of tzitzis is 600 plus the 8 strings and 5 knots equal to 613.
The 8 strings represent the 8 days from the time Bnei Yisroel left Egypt until they said shira.
The 4 corners of the tzitzis hint at the 4 expressions of geula—v’hotzaisi, v’hitzalti’ v’goalti’ v’lokachti.
Al “kanfei” bigdaychem eludes to the prophesy and hope that Hashem will gather us al “kanfei” nesharim. (and many more).
Perhaps what Chazal meant by these is that they were not the intrinsically intended hints but rather presenting examples of an approach for ourselves to use as tools for individual projections of significance.

As a result of their acceptance and sympathy to the report of the spies Bnei Yisroel were deprived entry to Eretz Yisroel. Conventionally, this is viewed as something very negative. The idea of being confined to the desert for 40 years seems equivalent to imprisonment. We must understand that for a human to exist in a desert without the necessary sophisticated equipment would be fatal. For the multitudes of Klal Yisroel to exist in the desert was only possible through constant miracles; all their physical needs were taken care of by Hashem in the form of constant Divine intervention. All their time was occupied by intensive Torah learning. It was one great, awesome Kollel! Because of their reaction to the spies they weren’t ready for the glorious era of entering Eretz Yisroel—they still needed the rich spiritual reinforcement offered in the Kollel of the midbar; this being very far from the prison concept.

We all need a midbar in our lives—a time and situation for intensive, spiritual building to draw from our whole lives.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Naso (5767)

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Parshas Naso (5767)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

Hashem left it up to us to label and designate Chag Shavuos for the celebration of the giving of the Torah. Hashem expects us to appreciate and evaluate the gift of the Torah. As the history of mankind progresses, appreciating and valuing the Torah as the essential of our lives increases.

The whole value system of human relationships which civilization once adhered to has completely crumbled including marriage, and parent-child relationships and above all, the accepted outlook in the civilized world today of how the world came about. It is essential to understand that it is not only that we believe in Hashem and know the truth of His being the Creator, and that they are mistaken, but the alternative that they accept is completely ridiculous and absurd. This crooked and twisted way of thinking infiltrates and destroys their brain and thought process and sabotages all correct values of life.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Bamidbar Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Bamidbar (5767)

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Parshas Bamidbar (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

On Shabbos we receive spiritual nourishment for all that is scheduled to transpire in the week to follow.  The fact that that we have “kabolas haTorah” this week puts a tremendous focus on the extreme significance of this Shabbos.  Practically speaking, we should keep in mind that we want to receive the special spiritual gifts for Shavuos and place special kavanos in our tefilos for success in Torah—for example Bircas HaTorah, Ahava Rabba and Berich Sh’may.  We should also make an attempt to be ‘mechadesh’ something in Torah, as the Zohar suggests we should do every Shabbos.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Emor (5767)

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Parshas Emor (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

An extremely important factor in avodas Hashem is placing the various areas of serving Hashem in their proper place of priority.  All through the generations, down through today, so much disturbance and destruction was caused to Klal Yisroel due to distortion of true priorities.

The Medrash in our parsha quotes a Chazal  (26:2) that in the times of David HaMelech despite the fact that the youth were on an extremely high level of Torah knowledge and purity from transgressions, there were great casualties in battle since they were guilty of transgressing the issur of lashon hora; a lack of sensitivity towards humans in their environment, to the contrast of the generation of Achav that despite their being guilty of idol worship their sensitivity and care towards others brought victory.  This reflects the likewise amazing Chazal that Rashi brings that the dor haflaga, despite their rebelliousness and denying of Hashem were not destroyed and was the generation of the dor hamabul since they were on a high level of connection, consideration and care for others—what we call brotherly love.  To the contrast of the generation of Noach who were lacking this and they were destroyed.  This gives us a clear picture to the true priorities of what Hashem wants from us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Berashis Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim (5767)

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Parshas Acharei-Kedoshim (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Upon simple observation of Rashi’s explanation of “Kedoshim Tihiyu”—’hevei prushim min hoarayos’, to would seem as Rashi’s explanation of the word Kedoshim is prushim—to inhibit one’s desires and urges and abstain from overindulgence.  However, a more exact consideration of his words might lead to the following explanation.  Rashi is pointing out that by practicing ‘prishus’, self-control, one brings the kedusha upon himself.  How can we fulfill the command of the Torah—Kedoshim Tihiyu—holiness; the Shechinah, is not something that is in our hands, that we have control over.  To this Rashi enlightens us that by the practice of prishus the state of kedusha descends upon us as a Heavenly gift, thus enabling us to fulfill the Torah’s command.

We are surrounded in our generation by many difficult trials and tribulations and tests in the area of self-control over lusts.  However the bright side of the coin is that we are being given a great opportunity for high degrees of kedusha by successful self-control.

Have a wonderful Shabbos Kodesh.

Chagim Pesach Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Shvi’i Shel Pesach (5767)

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Shvi’i Shel Pesach (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

It is vital that we don’t lose sight of themost important aspect of the kriyas Yam Suf, amidst all the “vorts” and deep concepts–the simplicity of how Hashem manipulated and orchestrated the Egyptians being caught in the middle of the miraculous opening of the sea.  Such an open, clear act of Hashem’s Kingdom and control down to the nitty gritty of actuality.  We must integrate this realization into our daily lives.

Have a wonderful, meaningful Yom Tov.

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