Shelach 5769-2009
"Long-Term Consequences" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Shelach, we are told of the twelve scouts who were sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan in…
Shelach 5761-2001
"The Torah's Definition of 'Power'" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Shelach, recounts the story of the twelve spies or, more accurately, twelve "scouts"…
Masei 5768-2008
"Optimism: The Call of the Hour" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, parashat Masei, the reading of the Book of Numbers is concluded. Parashat Masei opens with a…
Chayei Sarah 5781-2020
“The Personality of Isaac: The Passive Patriarch” (updated and revised from Chayei Sarah 5761–2000) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Chayei Sarah, we learn…
Vayeishev 5781-2020
“Judah, The Paradigm for Jewish Future” (Updated and revised from Vayeishev 5762-2001) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayeishev, is one of the most…
Sukkot I 5767-2006
"Sukkot - The Festival of Joy" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The festival of Sukkot is regarded as the most joyous of all the Jewish holidays. In fact, there is not a single reference in the…
Sukkot 5763-2002
"A Sukkah Memory" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Growing up as one of the few Yeshiva students in the East Bronx in the early 1950s was not easy. My non-religious Jewish friends mocked my…
Sukkot 5762-2001
"I'm Dreaming of a Warm Sukkot" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The joyous festival of Sukkot, which begins Monday evening, October 1, expresses the idea of the unity of the Jewish People in a…
Passover: The Second Days 5768-2008
"Counting the Omer" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In parashat Emor, we learn of the mitzvah of counting the Omer. Leviticus 23:15-16 declares: "Oosfartem lachem mee'macharat…
Passover 5767-2007
"Hitting Bottom" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The Al-mighty had told Moses and the Jewish people to prepare for redemption. In Exodus 12:3, the Israelites are instructed to take a lamb on…