Vayigash 5763-2002
"Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers: The Triumph of Jewish Identity" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In a very real sense, the story of Joseph, as depicted in parashat Vayigash, is the…
Tetzaveh-Purim 5761-2001
"The True Story of Purim" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, speaks of the fashioning of the clothes worn by the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest.…
The Purim Commitment
What does the holiday of Purim have to do with Jews reconnecting to their Jewish heritage? Purim is more than a celebration of the victory of the Jews over an enemy who wished to…
Study the History of Persian/Iranian Jews
Jews have had a strong and enduring relationship with the Persian Empire, a good part of which is found in modern day Iran. Make the effort to study the history of the Jewish presence in…
B’shalach 5765-2005
"Vah'chah'moo'shim–-A Call to Arms?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat B'shalach, Pharaoh sends the people out of land of Egypt, but after a change of…
Acharei Mot,Weekly Message,Kedoshim
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5770-2010
"Loving Thy Neighbor" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Kedoshim, the second of this week's double parashiot -- Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, we read the famous, indeed, revolutionary…
Kee Tavo 5772-2012
“Persecution’s ‘Silver Lining’” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, is one of two weekly Torah portions that contain the verses known as the “Tochacha ,”…
Acharei Mot 5774-2014
“Prelude to Holiness” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The name of this week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mot, literally means “in the aftermath of the deaths of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Abihu.”…
Tetzaveh 5775-2015
“The High Priest Wears the Names of Israel on His Heart” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, contains a number of varied themes, including the oil of…
Tzav 5776-2016
“Dressing Properly for Special Occasions” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, opens with detailed instructions to the Kohanim, the priests, regarding taking…