Articles,Purim Resources,Purim,Judaism,Purim Origins and CustomsJudaism,Purim,Literacy
Why Purim is Called Purim
Why Purim is Called Purim Most Jewish holidays have names that describe the significance of the holiday (i.e. on Sukkot we…
Pekudei,Weekly Message,Vayakhel
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5764-2004
"Celebrating the Month of Nisan" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming Shabbat, the final Shabbat in the Hebrew month of Adar, is also known as Shabbat Parashat HaChodesh. An…
Naso 5764-2004
"Our Brother, Our Sister--the Proselyte" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Naso, we learn of an interesting law concerning a person who takes possession of…
Vayikra 5771-2011
"No Leaven or Honey on the Altar" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald With this week’s parasha, parashat Vayikra, Jews, in synagogues throughout the world, begin to read the third of the Five Books…
Lech Lecha 5779-2018
“Why Did G-d Choose Abraham?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Lech Lecha, G-d, seemingly arbitrarily, calls out to Abram (whose name had not yet been changed…
Passover,Literacy Resources,Purim,Judaism,Purim ResourcesJudaism,Purim,Literacy
Shabbat Parashat Zachor
Shabbat Parashat ZachorThe Sabbath of Remembering Shabbat Parashat Zachor – The Sabbath of Remembering is named for the…
Remembering the Akeidah
In neither of the two Torah references to the holiday of Rosh Hashana (Leviticus 23:23-25, Numbers 29:1), is there a specific mention of the shofar, the ram's horn. Only…
Wayward Sons
While the Biblical canon has many stories of redemption and miracles, it also records narratives that demonstrate the true struggles of real people. Real people know of the commonly…
THIS is Chanukah
Tonight is the eighth and final night of Chanukah. After the flames die down, many people will pack up the menorah and think little of the holiday again until next year. However, the…
Oh Goodness
“He [Rabbi Akiva] said:... The world is judged with goodness, and everything depends on the abundance of good deeds” (Pirkei Avot/Ethics of the Fathers 3:19). God judges the world with…