Tag: Devorim

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5770)

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Parshas Devorim (5770)

The conventional explanation of Chazal that the Bais HaMikdash was destroyed because of ‘sinas chinam’ is a concept of punishment. A unique and deeper explanation is that the Ahavas Yisroel factor which is the positive of sinas chinam is a necessary ingredient for the existence of the Bais HaMikdash and its absence which is sinas chinam actually abolishes the pillars which are crucially needed.

Looking into this even more deeply in order to achieve true ahavas yisroel one much attribute and recognize that all that one is a recipient of from one’s fellow man is really from Hashem. Also, the ability to look away from the differences that exist between us can be achieved by focusing on the nishmas Elokim of our fellow man, which is common to all of us. Both of these factors of recognizing Elokus brings the Shchinah and structure to the Bais HaMikdash.

Hashem give us the strength to stand up to this difficult test and we should see the speedy rebuilding of the House of Hashem in our days.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5768)

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Parshas Devorim (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash (1:9) in our parsha quotes a Chazal promising a special bracha for receiving tochacha. The simple or conventional meaning of this is that the acceptance of rebuke is a commendable act that deserves a special blessing.

A deeper understanding of this is the reality that it is a truly difficult ordeal for one to really accept being rebuked. For one to accomplish this he must humble himself and put down his self respect and self honor. If he has succeeded in this herculean ordeal he will certainly need and deserve a special bracha for his battered self-image to be rightfully restored.

We hope and pray that Hashem should end this long galus with the speedy experience of the coming of Moshiach.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

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.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5766)

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Parshas Devorim (5766)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

We are now living in the period the Chumash refers to as having the “lev even”, the heart of stone, which we can all testify to. It is essential to recognize this in order not to be broken and feel helpless that our capabilities to relate to the Churban are beyond our emotions. Likewise, the suffering of our forefathers at the hands of the crusaders and other gentile viciousness throughout the generations, including the recent holocaust, and the current suffering in northern Eretz Yisroel.

The epitome of the contrast of this we find in a Medrash in our parsha that Moshe Rabeinu at the ‘maaseh aigel’ in order to alleviate the guilt of Klal Yisroel, exclaims to Hashem that He now has at His accessability the aigel to help Him with His various chores of keeping up the world, trying to give the false impression that he, too, was guilty of attributing power to the aigel. Moshe Rabeinu tried to give the impression that he was a heretic, for the sake of Klal Yisroel!!

The Medrash relates that Moshe was healed from his speech defect by his connection with the Torah. This is because the Torah is a source of life to the whole creation and therefore rectifies and rejuvenates any defects. This is surely a period of history when we should cling to the Torah.

Have a meaningful Tisha B’Av however it will manifest itself this year, a wonderful Shabbos, and salvation for all.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5764)

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Parshas Devorim (5764)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash in our parsha (1:9) stating that we see a bracha for accepting “tochacha” can be understood superficially as a recompensation for the negative feelings that usually accompany rebuke. For a deeper understanding of this we find the most puzzling phenomenon that Yaakov Avinu reserved his tochacha for his sons for his final moments of life for fear that they would desert him in favor of joining the ranks of Esav as a result of his rebuke. It is a most uncomprehensible fact; humans refuse to accept rebuke. They justify themselves, redeem themselves, and rebel. If one manages to accept tochahca he certainly deserves a bracha for a reward. We must cry our hearts out to Hashem to open our hearts to receive rebuke and enlightenment and we will surely receive all the brachos. We should merit to see the great redemption and have a wonderful Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5763)

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Parshas Devorim (5763)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

The Medrash (1:21) in our parsha gives us a clarity and understanding why the black cloud of mourning is lifted on this Shabbos. Shabbos is compared to a king and queen in a private, intimate meeting which is above the churban. This also rejuvenates our appreciation of the Shabbos.

Hashem should overhaul these days of sadness and mourning to happiness through the geula sh’layma.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim (5762)

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Parshas Devorim (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Our sedra Devorim is one of rebuke and the period of time over the mourning of the churban is also a time of rebuke. This is a period that inspires us to teshuva.

Our greatest yearning and prayer to Hashem is that He should reveal to us what His will is and that we should have the strength to fulfill it.

As we are living through the time of the darkest point of the galus we should also be worthy to see speedily in our days the redemption.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.

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 Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim: Bain HaMetzorim

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Parshas Devorim: Bain HaMetzorim
by Mordechai Dolinsky

I have been observing in recent years that people have difficulty in emotionally relating to the Churban. I suspect that one of the main factors for this is a general breakdown of our emotional sensitivity, which affects all areas that our feelings and emotions are involved in, not just the Churban. The promise to Klal Yisroel that with the coming of the ‘geulah’ our “heart of stone” (lev even) will be replaced with a heart of flesh is addressing this emotional coldness that we are experiencing. A helpful suggestion to observe the mourning of the Churban is to read accounts of the recent holocaust. Unfortunately, it is easier to relate to and it is all part of the Churban and galus.

The question has always been brought up as to why the mourning of the Churban isn’t observed on the Shabbasos of Bain HaMetzorim. After all, we are mourning mainly for the spiritual tragedy, for the honor of Hashem that has fallen. The Medrash 1:21 questions why a gentile deserves to die for keeping Shabbos and explains as follows: How would a king who is enjoying a very intimate party with his queen relate to an intruder to their privacy? This is the “goi” keeping Shabbos. What an insight this is as to the meaning of Shabbos—an intimate union of Hashem and Klal Yisroel. This is the focus of Shabbos and there is no place for Churban. How vital it is that we bear this in mind while celebrating Shabbos, a party with HaShem. How amazing– the mourning of the Churban sheds such a great light on Shabbos.

A most distressing facet of the Churban is that a major factor in the destruction was executed by our fellow Jews; the cruel murder of thousands including the greatest Talmidei Chachamim. Could we ever imagine that just misguided idealism could lead one Jew to actually mass murder his fellow Jews?!!

One of the reasons for the custom of the egg at the Seder table is to relate to the Churban since the Seder night occurs the same day of the week as Tisha B’Av. What could possibly be the connection between the two? “Food” for thought. In sharing my own thoughts on the perplexity I would say as follows. The insufficient relating to Pesach eventually brought about the Churban. Pesach exclaims the kingdom of HaShem
Pesach exclaims gratitude, to HaShem and to our fellow man.

Hashem should put an end to all of our “tzaros” and to this “galus”. We should see ‘yeshuos’ and ‘nechamos’, the rebuilding of the Bais HaMikdash, and the geulal sh’layma bikarov.

Bain HaMetzorim Chagim Devarim Weekly Parsha Rabbi Mordechai Dolinsky

Parshas Devorim: Bain HaMetzorim

Bs”d

Parshas Devorim: Bain HaMetzorim
by Mordechai Dolinsky

I have been observing in recent years that people have difficulty in emotionally relating to the Churban.  I suspect that one of the main factors for this is a general breakdown of our emotional sensitivity, which affects all areas that our feelings and emotions are involved in, not just the Churban.  The promise to Klal Yisroel that with the coming of the ‘geulah’ our “heart of stone” (lev even) will be replaced with a heart of flesh is addressing this emotional coldness that we are experiencing.  A helpful suggestion to observe the mourning of the Churban is to read accounts of the recent holocaust.  Unfortunately, it is easier to relate to and it is all part of the Churban and galus.

The question has always been brought up as to why the mourning of the Churban isn’t observed on the Shabbasos of Bain HaMetzorim.  After all, we are mourning mainly for the spiritual tragedy, for the honor of Hashem that has fallen.  The Medrash 1:21 questions why a gentile deserves to die for keeping Shabbos and explains as follows: How would a king who is enjoying a very intimate party with his queen relate to an intruder to their privacy?  This is the “goi” keeping Shabbos.  What an insight this is as to the meaning of Shabbos—an intimate union of Hashem and Klal Yisroel.  This is the focus of Shabbos and there is no place for Churban.  How vital it is that we bear this in mind while celebrating Shabbos, a party with HaShem.  How amazing– the mourning of the Churban sheds such a great light on Shabbos.

A most distressing facet of the Churban is that a major factor in the destruction was executed by our fellow Jews; the cruel murder of thousands including the greatest Talmidei Chachamim.  Could we ever imagine that just misguided idealism could lead one Jew to actually mass murder his fellow Jews?!!

One of the reasons for the custom of the egg at the Seder table is to relate to the Churban since the Seder night occurs the same day of the week as Tisha B’Av.  What could possibly be the connection between the two?  “Food” for thought.  In sharing my own thoughts on the perplexity I would say as follows.  The insufficient relating to Pesach eventually brought about the Churban.  Pesach exclaims the kingdom of HaShem
Pesach exclaims gratitude, to HaShem and to our fellow man.

Hashem should put an end to all of our “tzaros” and to this “galus”.  We should see ‘yeshuos’ and ‘nechamos’, the rebuilding of the Bais HaMikdash, and the geulal sh’layma bikarov.

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