Holy Water

There are so many unique components to Jerusalem. Its holiness is celebrated by multiple religions. However, one primary difference between Jerusalem and other ancient cities is that it…

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Mikeitz 5780-2019

“Who is Osenath the wife of Joseph?” (Updated and revised from Mikeitz 5760-1999)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's…

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Vayeishev 5780-2019

“The Coming of Age of Joseph: from Lad to Bechor” (edited and revised from Vayeishev 5760-2000)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeishev, we are…

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The Torah’s Thanksgiving

While the majority of the sacrifices enumerated in the Torah are related to atonement for sins or to celebrate feast days, the Sh'lamim, peace offerings, were unique because they…

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Biblical Twins

Twins have long been a source of great fascination for many, as demonstrated by the vast number of studies and stories that have used twins as their subject. Twins, however, do not seem…

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Toledot 5780-2019

“A Lesson from Jacob and Esau: Understanding and Accepting Differences” (Updated and revised from Toledot 5760-1999)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   In this week’s parasha,…

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World Hello Day

In 1973, Brian and Michael McCormack created World Hello Day as a reaction to the Yom Kippur War. College students at the time, the brothers started a campaign encouraging people to…

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Soles and Souls on the Danube

The Danube River is closely identified with the city through which it runs, Budapest, Hungary. Yet that river was defiled in late 1944. On March 19, 1944, the German army conquered…

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Chaim Weizmann

Many of the greatest names in Israeli history belong to leaders of military battles and to eloquent spokespersons who rallied the Jewish people to fight for a modern homeland. Chaim…

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