Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares the teshuva is not hard – it just takes the step of recognizing that we have to do it and the rest comes easy. If we don’t admit that we have done wrong or see others who have done wrong (not us) it won’t be possible to change and do teshuva ourselves. This is an important five minute video to watch before the upcoming Chagim.
Say You’re Sorry (Ep. 253) – This full episode of the Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky show goes through the path of Slichot that Ashkenazi Jews start this Motze Shabbat.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the “going off to war” physical war is analogous to our internal battle we have with our yetzer hara (evil inclination). Also, the promise that through the mitzvot in this parasha that we are empowered to succeed in our challenges and life.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the description of the fight Am Yisroel (the Jewish people) when we will enter the Land of Israel for the first time and to not be afraid. Rabbi Orlofsky explains that this parallels our fight internally with the Yetzer Hara (our evil inclination) and the four steps we go through in this journey of the fight. The morale of the story is the only way to be successful in these fights – both the fight in the Land of Israel and our internal fight with the Yetzer Hara is with Hashem’s help. Furthermore, as we embark on the Hebrew month of Elul leading up to Rosh Hashana (the Day of Judgement of the World for both Jews and Non-Jews alike) which embodies doing teshuva (repentance) with Hashem’s help only to be ultimately successful and be written for a positive year to come.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the Mishkan at Shilo and its relation to the name of this parasha (Re’eh) which it discusses the status of forshadowing the event of Shiloh. The concept is the goal or destination (the Beis Hamikdash) that we can “see” in the distance has steps to go through first to get there. Those steps are part of the process of building the Beis Hamikdah. We are also now a part of the process of building the Third Temple – can we see (Re’eh) the goal/destination in the distance and the steps to get there?
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the two paragraphs of “Shema Yisroel”. Why are the two paragraphs in two separate weekly parashas? If they are said together shouldn’t they be next to other in the Torah. Listen to this !Short Clip! for the background on why this is.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares a very tough message to hear about why we are sitting on the ground mourning the destruction of both Temples…..AGAIN. We are infected with the poison of not caring enough for others to put in the effort and looking for the easy way out. Every Jew needs to hear this mussar and internalize its message not just on Tisha B’Av but regularly throughout the year. Otherwise, we will be sitting on the floor again next year!
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares how this weekly parasha (Korach) and how the Leviim had to be completely shaved like an egg and Korach’s wife told him that he was going to be humiliated and be unable to give anymore. This made him upset and caused him to rebel. The more we feel we can do and be useful the more alive we are. Empowermet is the true chinuch!
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the blessing in this recent weekly Torah portion (Bechukosai) of the ability of the Jews to increase the ratio of our effectiveness against our enemies. From 5 to 100 to 100 to 10,000. The Rabbi explains that this means going from 20% effective to 100% effective. How can we achieve this? By helping and bringing along our fellow Jews to join us in our journey we add to our individual and collective effectiveness against our enemies and towards our wholeness.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the difference between the “sameness” of the everyday prayers and even the Jewish Holiday prayers and the uniqueness of the Shabbat prayers. How we travel from the historical Shabbat of the entire Jewish people during the evening prayer to the very present Shabbat of the morning prayer to the Shabbat of the future (redemption) in the afternoon prayer. The journey makes Shabbat prayers uplifting and transformative every week we experience them.