Grace Before Meals
One of the seven mitzvot enacted by the rabbis is reciting blessings prior to eating food. The other six rabbinic innovations are: the holiday of Purim, the holiday of Chanukah, lighting…
Hey Levi
Levi, the third son of Jacob, was a passionate man, whose zeal, when transmitted to his descendants, was focused toward God. According to the Midrash, unlike the other Israelites, the…
Va'etchanan,Weekly Message,Tisha b'Av
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…
Chanukah,Chanukah Resources,Articles,JudaismLiteracy,Judaism,Chanukah
Chanukah Heroines
Chanukah Heroines There are two famous stories about women associated with Chanukah, the story of Yehudit and the story of…
Yom Hashoah,Shemini,Weekly Message
Shemini-Yom Hashoah 5769-2009
"Aaron's Response to Tragedy–a Lesson for Yom Hashoah" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald It was intended to be the most jubilant day of Aaron's life. Each day, starting on the 23rd day of…
B’shalach 5769-2009
"Pharaoh Sends the People of Israel out of Egypt" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat B'shalach opens with a well-known verse describing Israel's dramatic exodus from Egypt. The Bible,…
Tisha b'Av,Weekly Message,Devarim
Devarim-Tisha B’Av 5766-2006
"Isaiah's Message to Contemporary Jews" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The weekly Torah portion of Devarim is always read on the week that precedes the fast of Tisha b'Av. (This year, the…
Devarim 5765-2005
"The Book of Deuteronomy–Mishneh Torah and the Purpose of Repetition" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Devarim, marks the commencement of the fifth book of the…
Matot-Masei 5766-2006
"Taking a Stand Against the Banality of Evil" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In the first of this week's double parashiot, Matot-Masei, we read of the battle that the people of Israel waged…
Yom Kippur 5769-2008
"Difficult Transitions" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald On the last day of his life, Moses seals the new covenant with the People of Israel. According to the Midrash, the people then return…