Fasting on Friday
The general rule of Jewish fast days is that they cannot occur on Friday. This rule is meant to protect the joy and happiness of Shabbat, for the sages felt that entering Shabbat hungry…
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…
Weekly Message,Genesis,Devarim
Devarim 5772-2012
"The Al-mighty’s Relationship with the Nations of the World" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously noted on several occasions (Devarim 5765-2005), the book of Devarim…
Va’etchanan 5774-2014
“The Prediction of Return” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Va’etchanan, is always read after the Fast of the 9th of Av and after the conclusion of the period…
Matot-Masei 5776-2016
“Rosh Chodesh Av – Remembering the Passing of a Beloved Leader" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Masei, the second of this week’s combined parashiot Matot-Masei, features a lengthy…
Devarim 5771-2011
“The Responsibility not to be Misled” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week’s parasha, parashat Devarim, the fifth book of the Torah, which bears the same name as the parasha,…
Va’etchanan 5781-2021
“Loving the Land of Israel” (Updated and revised from Va’etchanan 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Va’etchanan, is an extremely rich parasha.…
Devarim 5773-2013
"The Price of Disunity" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week’s parasha, parashat Devarim, the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy, begins. Parashat Devarim is always read on…
Devarim 5782-2022
“The Gentle Reproof” (updated and revised from Devarim 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, congregations the world over finally align their Torah readings with Israel, and…
The Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur
"...on the tenth of the month, you shall afflict your souls and do no work at all...for on that day God will forgive you and cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before…