Rabbi Shmuel Salant
On the 29th of Av, 1909, Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Jerusalem’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, for almost 70 years, passed away. Rabbi Shmuel was born in 1816 in Bialystok, then part of Czarist Russia.…
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…
Educating American Girls
When Vichna Kaplan (1913–1986) arrived in America in 1937, her experiences confirmed the country’s reputation as a place where Jewish religious life was in danger. This was particularly…
Fyvush
There are certain entertainers who are known by their first name, such as Matisyahu, Madonna, Cher, Eminem, etc. Others are known by their first name, despite widespread knowledge of…
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…
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,…
Herzl’s Vision of Haifa
International air travel, especially in recent years, can be frustrating, annoying and anxiety-provoking. Because of the extra costs of traveling to and from airports, navigating the…
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…
An Extraordinary Run
With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in full swing, NJOP shares the story of a Jewish British Olympian. When Harold Maurice Abrahams was born on December 15, 1899, movies were short,…
Matot-Masei 5784-2024
“Taking a Stand Against the Banality of Evil” (updated and revised from Matot-Masei 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Parashat Matot, the first of this week’s double parashiot,…