By Rabbi Yair Hoffman By day, Dr. Boruch Adler is a dentist.  And no one ever doubted that he could drill deep (in order to remove all decay).  But who could imagine that at night, when he apparently wrote this sefer, that Rabbi Boruch Adler could dig so deep? This Sefer, (513 pages, English, and published by Menorah Press)” Dancing With the Parsha” is filled with precious pearls from Rabbi Boruch Adler’s Rosh Yeshiva and Rebbe Muvhak, Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l and interwoven with Torah thoughts by Yeshiva Chaim Berlin’s mashgiach, Rav Avigdor Miller zt”l, along with the Mattesdorfer Rav’s thoughts as well.  The sefer is a work of deep machshava.  How do we know that dreams are real? In the aftermath of the October 7th murders, a question came to light that Rabbi Adler answers beautifully (and he is probably even unaware of the question – until he reads this review!) A resident of the southern border of Eretz Yisroel had a dream that Shabbos night.  His deceased Rebbe, who advised him to move into that community came to him and told him, “Flee immediately!  Drive on Shabbos and go as quickly as possible back to Eretz Yisroel!”  Initially, he ignored the dream, but then the dream repeated itself.  Is he allowed to violate the halacha and drive on Shabbos just on a dream? In Parshas Vayetzei, Yaakov dream of a ladder set earthward, and its top reached the Heavens.  The ladder dream, Dr. Adler points out, represents Klal Yisroel’s relation with Hashem and guaranteed Klal Yisroel’s ownership of Eretz Yisroel, its strength in confronting her enemies, and Hashem’s unabated loyalty to Klal Yisroel. But Dr. Adler asks, how did Yaakov know that it was real? Perhaps it was nonsense or a fantasy? Dr. Adler explores the sources in which we can find the answer (and this Sefer was printed long before the October 7th massacre).  The Midrash (Bereishs Rabba 89:5) points out that early morning dreams have validity; the Maharzav explains that two dreams in quick succession indicates its truth; the Maharsha in Brachos 55b classifies dreams into three categories and states that if  a dream has only one possible interpretation – then treat it as real.  Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlita ruled on the case that he was correct to be mechalel Shabbos based on the same sources that Rabbi Adler has marshalled. In Vayishlach, Dr. Adler provides a remarkable review of Devorah, the nursemaid that Yaakov Avinu mourned along with his mother.  He cites the view of Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l that she was actually Rivkah’s mother – the wife of Besuel and the overriding influence that allowed Rivkah Imeinu to emerge as a Tzadaikes.  Extraordinary! In Parshas Vayechi, Rabbi Adler explains the different aspects of the name Yaakov and of the name “Yisroel.” In Parshas Bereishis, Rabbi Adler unfolds deep insights into how and why each day of Maaseh bereishis was infused with Chessed and the ability to do Teshuvah. In Mikaitz, Rabbi Adler provides an almost exhaustive exposition as to the parameters of Bitachon and Hishtadlus.  He cites Rabbeinu Yona that states that one must always realize that it is Hashem who is behind it all – even though we are obligated in doing Hishtadlus. The sefer is filled with anecdotes as well.  Rabbi Adler […]