Terumah 5776-2016
“Charity–the Only True Possession” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, we read of the Israelites’ overwhelmingly generous response to the appeal for…
Vayikra 5777-2017
“רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ --A Sweet Savor unto the L-rd” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, parashat Vayikra, we begin reading the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, which is…
Mishpatim 5764-2004
"The Al-mighty's Concern for the Dignity of the Human Being" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously noted, Parashat Mishpatim essentially establishes the structure of…
Naso 5763-2003
"The Hypocrite as Exemplar" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Naso, we encounter a very strange order in the topics of the text. The Torah in Numbers…
Rosh Hashana 5763-2002
"A Message for the High Holy Days: 'Export, Export!'" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Beginning this Friday evening, September 6th, and continuing through Saturday and Sunday, September 7th and…
Kedoshim,Weekly Message,Acharei Mot
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5772-2012
"Respect for Elders" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The double portions of Acharei-Mot and Kedoshim together contain a total of 79 mitzvot, more than one seventh of all the mitzvot in the…
Behar-Bechukotai, Yom Yerushalayim 5772-2012
"Living Outside the Land of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Behar, the first of this week’s double parashiot, Behar-Bechukotai, we learn of the special relationship that…
Shemini 5773-2013
"Authentic Religious Ecstasy" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, we read of the tragic deaths of Aaron’s elder sons, Nadav and Abihu. When describing…
Yitro 5774-2014
“Jethro’s Blessing” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, joins the People of Israel after they had been delivered from the…
Metzorah 5774-2014
“The Peddler and Evil Speech” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Metzorah, again addresses the Biblical affliction Tzara’at, צָּרַעַת. Parashat Metzorah teaches…