Jewish Treats

Good Thinking

Appreciate the ingenuity of those Jews who used wood ladders as a ruse in order to transfer wood to the Temple to be used on the altar for the sacrifices. The Temple in Jerusalem…

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Eikev,Weekly Message

Eikev 5782-2022

“Is There Truth to the Notion of Spiritual Accountability?” (updated and revised from Eikev 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Eikev, contains…

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Shoftim,Weekly Message

Shoftim 5782-2022

“Astrology, Witchcraft and Spiritualism in Judaism” (updated and revised from Shoftim 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s Torah portion, parashat Shoftim, the Torah…

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Jewish Treats

I Am To My Beloved

The Torah verse that most epitomizes the emotion of love is: “Anee l’dodi v’dodi lee” – I am to my beloved, and my beloved is to me (Song of Songs 6:3). The ideal love relationship,…

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Jewish Treats

The Three T’s

On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we declare: “Repentance, prayer and charity remove the evil of the decree!” In Hebrew, these constitute the three Ts: Teshuva, Tefila and Tzedaka. Teshuva…

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Jewish Treats

Ushpeezin (pronounced Oo’shpee’zin)

During the festival of Sukkot, the sukkah is intended to be our home. For example, since dining normally takes place in the house, on Sukkot dining takes place in the sukkah. Because the…

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Bereshith

Bereshith 5783-2022

“The Book of Humankind” (updated and revised from Bereshith 5764-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald More than 2000 years ago, the rabbis of the Babylonian Jewish community divided the…

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Jewish Treats

Name Change

It is not a coincidence that cultures around the world share a belief in the power of given names. In Judaism, it is believed that parents are granted a flash of ruach hakodesh, Divine…

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Weekly Message,Yitro

Yitro 5783-2023

Yitro 5783-2023 “Why G-d Can Not Share the Limelight” (updated and revised from Yitro 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Yitro, the Al-mighty…

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Jewish Treats

Humble Bee

February 22nd has been declared “Be Humble Day,” a “holiday” that most likely originated from the online greeting card industry. Nevertheless, a day dedicated to the importance of being…

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