Passover I 5765-2005
"In Every Generation" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Although the scheduled Torah portion for this week is Acharei Mot, I would like to dwell on the theme of Passover, since the festival…
Genesis,Weekly Message,Va'eira
Va’eira 5773-2013
"The ‘Outstretched Arm’ and the ‘Mighty Hand’" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Va’eira, the process of the Israelites’ redemption from Egypt begins, as the…
Kee Teitzei 5773-2013
"The ‘Mitzvah’ of Divorce, Revisited" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei, speaks of the "mitzvah" of divorce. Although we have previously discussed the…
Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5774-2014
“Repentance-With a Little Help from our Friend in Heaven!” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Nitzavim, the first of this week’s double parashiot, Nitzavim-Vayeilech, we read the…
Shemini 5778-2018
“Kashrut and Copepods” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, is one of two parshiyot (the other is Re’eh, Deuteronomy 14:3-21) that serve as the main sources…
Seek the Answer
The Four Questions (Mah Nishtana - What makes it different?) is one of the most famous features of the Passover Seder. In Ashkenazi homes, these four lines are recited by the…
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was born on July 31, 1912 to Sara Ethel (Landau) and Jeno Saul Friedman, Carpathian Jewish immigrants living in Brooklyn, NY. As a child, his family relocated to Rahway,…
Seek the Answers
The Four Questions (Mah Nishtana - What makes it different?) is one of the most famous features of the Passover Seder. In Ashkenazi homes, these four lines are recited by the…
It Was Bashert
Bashert, which in Yiddish means “predestined,” is most commonly applied to the concept of one’s intended soul-mate. This idea that, when dating, one is searching for his/her bashert,…