The Thirteen Principles
The United States Supreme Court decides whether laws conform or do not conform to the U.S. Constitution. Similarly, the ancient sages decided and interpreted halacha, Jewish law, based on…
Noah 5766-2005
"The Seven Commandments Given to the Descendants of Noah" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Noah, G-d blesses Noah and his children after the Flood, and graces…
Va’etchanan 5765-2005
"The Jewish Attitude Toward Intermarriage" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Va'etchanan, is chock-full of extraordinary themes, including the texts of the Ten…
Va’etchanan 5771-2011
"The Ten Commandments: The Differences" By Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Va’etchanan, Moses revisits the scriptural verses known as the "Decalogue" or the Ten…
Believe Completely
Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides, Rambam) was a 12th century Jewish philosopher, codifier, commentator and physician. He is best known for his codification of Jewish law (Mishneh…
Speech of Jacob Henry
Though I will not conceal the surprise I felt, that the gentleman should have thought proper yesterday to have moved my expulsion from this house, on the alleged grounds that I…
Vayishlach 5766-2005
"When a Jew Comes to the City" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayishlach, Jacob sends a most impressive tribute consisting of goats, ewes, rams, camels and…
B’ha’alot’cha 5761-2001
"The Torah's Attitude Towards Converts" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's Torah portion, parashat Beha'alotecha, continues the narrative of the Jew's wanderings in the…
Matot-Masei 5778-2018
“Judaism and Warfare” In parashat Matot, the first of this week’s double parashiyot, Matot-Masei, we read of the great battle that Israel waged to avenge the Midianite nation for leading…
Unlucky 13?
Our culture has planted in our minds that 13 is a particularly unlucky number (Triskaidekaphobia = fear of 13). “Friday the 13th” (Paraskevisekatriaphobia = fear of Friday the 13th) is a…