Rosh Hashana,Weekly Message,Haazinu

Rosh Hashana/Haazinu 5785-2024

“Jewish Normal, Is Not Very Normal” (updated and revised from Haazinu-Rosh Hashana 5774-2013) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Haazinu, Moses, speaking to the…

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Jewish Treats

Selichot

In addition to the unique prayer services of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the High Holidays are known for one other service: selichot. A collection of religious poems and verses, selichot…

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Jewish Treats

Symbolic Foods

Since Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment, it is customary to eat simanim*, foods with symbolic meanings that invoke God’s blessing. We also recite a short prayer before eating them.…

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Jewish Treats

Annulment of Vows

“I swear that this time I will lose weight.” “I am going to pray every day…” We make promises all the time. We swear that we are going to do something, and then hope that we will be in a…

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Nitzavim,Weekly Message,Vayeilech

Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5784-2024

“Choosing Life” (updated and revised from Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald There’s something very distinctive about the arrival of the Jewish New Year. Whenever…

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Jewish Treats

Positive Thinking

One of the new holidays that has gained traction due to internet calendars is “Positive Thinking Day,” celebrated this year today, on September 13th. With a little more than than two…

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Re'eh,Weekly Message

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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Jewish Treats

No Holiday as Joyous

Tu b’Av (The Fifteenth of Av), which is today, is no longer the well-known holiday on the Jewish calendar that it was in ancient times. In fact, the Talmud states that: “There were no…

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Va'etchanan,Weekly Message

Va’etchanan 5784-2024

“The Jewish Attitude Toward Intermarriage” (updated and revised from Va’etchanan 5765-2005)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald  This week’s parasha, parashat  Va’etchanan, is chock-full…

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B'ha'a'lot'cha,Weekly Message

B’ha’a’lot’cha 5784-2024

“The Message of the Trumpets" (updated and revised from B'ha'a'lot'cha 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’ha’a’lot’cha, the Torah, in Numbers…

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