Smashing the Tablets

Today's date on the Jewish calendar is the Seventeenth of Tammuz. The sages declare that five tragedies occurred on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, which is why the day is observed as a fast…

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Bamidbar 5783-2023

“Surviving the Wilderness” (updated and revised from Bamidbar 5764-2004)   by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bamidbar, the Israelites enter the…

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Seven Days to the Sea

The Passover celebration lasts seven days in Israel and eight days, outside of Israel. (For more information as to why, please click here). The first day (and second, outside of Israel)…

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Passover 5783-2023

“With G-d as Our Partner” (updated and revised from Chol haMoed Passover 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This Shabbat, Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach, the regular Torah portion,…

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Tetzaveh 5783-2023

“Keeping the Priests Humble” (updated and revised from Tetzaveh 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week’s parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, we read, in rather minute…

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B’shalach 5783-2023

“The Malbim Teaches the Lessons of the Manna” (updated and revised from B’shalach 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week’s parasha, parashat B’shalach, the recently…

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Shemot 5783-2023

“The Making of a Concerned Jewish Leader” (updated and revised from Shemot 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With the close of the Book of Genesis, the story of Joseph has come to…

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Sukkot 5783-2022

Sukkot 5783-2022 “The Seven Protective Divine Clouds” (updated and revised from Sukkot 5764-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The festival of Sukkot acknowledges profound gratitude to…

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Pinchas 5782-2022

“Can a Perfect G-d Sin?” (Updated and revised from Pinchas 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, is full of fascinating narratives. The parasha…

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Smashing the Tablets

The sages declare that five tragedies occurred on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, (Sunday, July 17th)* which is why the day is observed as a fast day. Days of what we might now call “bad…

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