Passover 5763-2003
"Chometz, Matzah and Faith in Redemption" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, the normal Torah portion is preempted by the upcoming holiday of Passover which begins Wednesday evening,…
Shemini 5763-2003
"Using, Not Abusing, a Sanctified Substance" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Shemini, opens on the eighth and final day of the inauguration of the newly…
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…
Vayishlach 5763-2002
"We Can Forgive the Arabs For Killing Our Children..." by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald As we learn more and more Torah, we cannot help but realize that we frequently learn revolutionary…
Kee Tavo 5762-2002
"A Contemporary Interpretation of an Ancient Reproof" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, is one of two parashiot in the Torah that are known as…
Weekly Message,Tisha b'Av,Va'etchanan
Va’etchanan-Tisha B’Av 5762-2002
"Loving the Land of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's Torah portion, parashat Va'etchanan, is an extremely rich parasha. The parasha opens with Moshe's plea to G-d to allow…
Shelach 5762-2002
"What's in a Name?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's Torah portion, parashat Shelach, the Torah tells of the twelve men who were sent to scout the land of Canaan, and…
Shavuot 5762-2002
"Beyond the Book of Ruth: The Untold Story" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Beginning this Thursday night, May 16th and continuing through Friday and Shabbat, May 17th and 18th, Jews…
Bechukotai,Weekly Message,Behar
Behar-Bechukotai 5762-2002
"The Extraordinary Mitzvah of Tzedaka, Charity" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Once again, this week, we read two combined parashiot Behar-Bechukotai. In the first of this coming week's…
Acharei Mot,Weekly Message,Kedoshim
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5762-2002
"Shaatnez: Understanding Irrational Decrees" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Once again, this week, we have combined parashiot--Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. The theme of the second parasha,…