Written for Their Sons

Imagine traveling forward 500 years in time and discovering multitudes of people studying something you had written for your child. Imagine walking into a bookstore and finding multiple…

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Re’eh 5784-2024

“Adding or Subtracting” (updated and revised from Re’eh 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Re’eh is a rich and colorful parasha, that contains 55 mitzvot--17 positive and 38…

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Re’eh 5766-2006

"Adding or Subtracting" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Re'eh is a rich and colorful parasha that contains 55 mitzvot, 17 positive and 38 negative. Among the most intriguing of the…

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Anomalies and Interpretations

The writing of a Torah scroll is an incredibly intricate process. To write a Torah, the scribe must not only be meticulous and devout, but must know all of the many laws associated with…

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Shavuot 5785-2025

“Appreciating Shavuot” (updated and revised from Shavuot 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Of all the major holidays and festivals of the Jewish people, the one that is least known…

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The Passover Haggadah

On Passover night we are commanded “v’hee’ga’d’ta l’vincha” and you shall tell, the story of the Exodus to your children. (Notice the shared root of hee’ga’d’ta and Haggadah.) The…

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What Are Tefillin?

The common translation of tefillin is “phylacteries,” which is a Greek word meaning amulet. “And you shall bind them [the words that I command you today] for a sign upon your arm, and…

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Shemot 5785-2025

“In the Merit of Miriam” (updated and revised from Shemot 5765-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwaldֹ In this coming week’s parasha, parashat Shemot, we learn of the oppression of the…

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Vayechi 5785-2025

“The ‘Sealed’ Torah Portion” (updated and revised from Vayechi 5765-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwaldֹ This week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, is unique among all the parashiot of the…

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Shoftim 5784-2024

“The Extent of Rabbinic Authority” (updated and revised from Shoftim 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shoftim, 41 new Torah laws, are…

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