Va’eira 5763-2002
"The Exodus--A 'Primitive' Story with Revolutionary Implications" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Jewish history is often perceived, with great justification I might add, as one unending…
Devarim 5760-2000
"Judaism's Unique Views on Justice and the Justice System" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week, we begin reading Deuteronomy, the final book of the five books of the Torah.…
Vayakhel 5760-2000
"Jewish Women and Jewish Destiny" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, Parashat Vayakhel, we encounter an intriguing set of verses. The vast majority of Parashat…
Bo 5760-2000
"Rational Love and Emotional Love: A Lesson from T'fillin" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, Parashat Bo, we read of the concluding three plagues: locusts,…
Bereshith 5785-2024
“P’roo Ur’voo--Jewish Attitudes Toward Procreation” (updated and revised from Bereshith-Simchat Torah 5765-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald For some parents, the greatest gift in life…
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…
Devarim 5784-2024
“The Book of Deuteronomy-Mishneh Torah and the Purpose of Repetition” (updated and revised from Devarim 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Devarim,…
Best Seller
For a high school dropout who failed English three times, Leon Uris had an outstanding career as a best-selling author. The Baltimore-born (August 3, 1924) Uris was the son of a Jewish…
Smashing the Tablets
The sages declare that five tragedies occurred on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, today's date which we observe as a fast day. Days of what we might now call “bad karma” (on which bad things…
Seven Days to the Sea
The Passover celebration lasts seven days in Israel and eight days, outside of Israel. (For more information as to why, please click here). The first day (and second, outside of Israel)…