Bo 5782-2022
“Rituals Work, Rituals Work!” (updated and revised from Bo 5762-2002) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Bo, describes the final three plagues: locusts, darkness…
Uncategorized,Vayeilech,Nitzavim
Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5783-2023
“The Promise of Total Return” (updated and revised from Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5762-2002) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s double parashiot, Nitzavim and Vayeilech, are among…
Bo 5765-2005
"Opening Their Hearts so They Can Hear" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Bo, the ten plagues come to a dramatic conclusion with the Death of all…
Literacy Resources,Judaism,Passover Resources,PassoverJudaism,Passover,Literacy
The Seder Plate
The Seder Plate With today’s vast variety of Passover products, grape flavored matzah, chocolate covered matzah, and…
Masei 5765-2005
"The Role of Witnesses and Testimony" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As last year was a leap year, this year is one of the rare occasions where, outside of Israel, parashat Masei is read…
Yom Kippur 5768-2007
"The Role of the Cantor in the High Holiday Services" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. It was in that Temple and the First Temple that…
Sukkot-Hoshana Rabbah 5768-2007
"The Festival of Sukkot Comes to a Dramatic Close" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The final day of Sukkot, both in Israel and in the Diaspora, is known as Hoshanah Rabbah. Hoshanah Rabbah,…
Shavuot 5770-2010
"The Gift that Keeps on Giving" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Because of the holiday, the theme of this Torah message concerns the festival of Shavuot, rather than the weekly Torah portion,…
Kee Tavo 5770-2010
"Secret Transgressions" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, we once again encounter the Tochacha, G-d’s reproval of the Jewish people. The Tochacha…
Terumah 5772-2012
"The Outer Altar" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, parashat Terumah, we begin to read a cycle of five Torah portions that extensively describe the building and…