Bs”d
Parshas Ki Saitzai (5771)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
Elul is the time for intensive dedication and in this present point of history more than ever we must attempt to overcome the great thick walls that separate us one from another.
We must also get close to Hashem by davening with a special inspiration, enthusiasm and outward oval expression.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Bs”d
Parshas Ki Saitzai (5770)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
Let’s all inspire ourselves to be engrossed in our Elul avodas Hashem in self-improvement bain adam laMakom and bein adam l’chavero, positives and negatives. There is an immense of Divine help available for those who are so inspired. Ki Saitzai lamilchama—these are our trule life battles. We should all be successful and it should culminate to a shana tova for ourselves and all Klal Yisroel.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Bs”d
Parshas Ki Saitzai (5769)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
(21:23) The deep concept of leaving the corpse hanging (see Rashi) is that we attribute bad to Hashem, and it is really a result of our own wrongdoings as we see in the parsha of Haazinu.
To lift ourselves in Elul we should daven especially Shacharis, with inspiration and a “kol” and undertake a small improvement in some area.\
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Bs”d
Parshas Ki Saitzai (5768)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
We are living in a period of time that in order to connect with this very valuable time of Elul we have to accomplish this as individuals and not lean on mass inspiration as in years gone by. We should devote intensive time each day with “connecting” with Hashem as He makes Himself especially available now. “Ani ledodi v’dodi li”/
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Bs”d
Parshas Ki Saitzai (5764)
by Mordechai Dolinsky
A very clear lesson we gain from the issue of the “yefas toar”; the web of lure in our parsha, came about from an optional war. Very often the spiritual downfalls we have are caused by exposing ourselves to unnecessary situations.
In Elul we should use the sound of the shofar for the chizuk it was intended for—the tekiah, proclaiming the Kingdom of Hashem; and the shvarim teruah appealing and crying to Hashem to forgive us and to allow us to come close to Him.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Bs”d
Parshas Shoftim – Ki Saitzai – Elul (5762)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
The parsha of Ki Saitzai begins and ends with going out to war. The greatest and most significant battle we have is with the yetzer hara which encompasses every area of avodas HaShem and accounts for the tremendous variety and range of mitzvos our sedra contains.
Parshas Shoftim contains the imposing of authority over the people with a “stick and strap”. This represents the exterior motivation and incentive. This is the time of year that we harness the Shoftim aspect of our personality and character by making self-imposed restrictions and taking upon ourselves stringencies. Besides the concept of tshuva another concept explaining this Elul mentality is that we have special Divine assistance to free us from being bound by the heavy chains of the yetzer hara manifested in consistent transgressions or constant lack of ability to actuate the reality of true fulfillment of the mitzvos. The strength and the ability to accomplish this in Elul is the special closeness that Hashem makes available to us, expressed so beautifully in “Ani Ledodi V’dodi Li”.
Have a wonderful Shabbos and a successful Elul.
Bs”d
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.
Bs”d
Parshas Ki Saitzai (5760)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
In answer to our common quest for self-improvement in Elul, I would like to share a Medrash which I found quite inspiring and helpful. Medrash Rabbah 4:5:” Omar HaKadosh Baruch Hu Shimu Li Sheain Adam Shomayah Li U’mafsid.” HaShem calls out to us to be obedient. One never loses by fulfilling HaShem’s wishes. These simple few words have awesome far-reaching implications. In the typical test situations that we so often find ourselves, is the classical “tug of war” between getting ‘my way’, doing ‘my thing’, having ‘ my enjoyment or thrill’ versus doing the Will of HaShem. What is boils down to is should I give in to HaShem, The Master of the world, Giver of Life, and sacrifice my own enjoyment, with the belief and realization that I will receive reward in this world and the next. Through this Medrash a completely new and different dimension comes to light. In focusing on the essence of the temptation of reaping the immediate satisfaction HaShem says don’t be concerned over the loss, because there won’t be one. Whatever benefit or enjoyment you expect to attain, will be obtained. My promise to you is not “just” reward sometime in the future in this world and the next, but the very satisfaction for which you yearn I will satiate you with, but through permissible means.
To manifest this as a reality it demands our belief that HaShem is in contact with our inward feelings and has full control. We find this concept reflected in our Parsha of Ki Saitzai. The Chazal Rashi quotes concerning the taking of the Yefas Toar 21:11 “If he takes her he will eventually despise her”. We can hear the echo of the tempted exclaiming—“Me hate her?? This is my heart. How can some other being dictate how I will feel?” Hashem knows your feelings and He is in absolute control. How much this could change things for us if we were only able to bear it in mind when tested, HaShem will satiate our desires and we won’t lose.
A helpful Elul tip; pick some even small area for self-improvement every day.
We should be successful in our endeavors and it should lead to a wonderful year in every way for us and all Klal Yisroel.
sending...
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