Shemot 5782-2021
“The Circumcision of Eliezer: A Message for Busy Parents” (updated and revised from Shemot 5762-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shemot, Moses emerges…
IPO Music
On December 26, 1936, corresponding to today’s Hebrew date, the 12th of Tevet, the Palestine Orchestra, founded by Polish-Jewish violinist, Bronislaw Huberman, held its initial concert in…
Mikeitz-Chanukah 5782-2021
“What is Chanukah Really About?” (updated and revised from Mikeitz 5761-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Mikeitz, continues the magnificent saga of…
Jews in the Fold
Yesterday, November 11th, was celebrated internationally as National Origami Day. Origami is a compound Japanese term: ori means folding and kami means paper. Origami was created in the…
National Hermit Day
Judaism is not known for encouraging asceticism. While the Torah commands the Jewish people to “afflict” themselves on Yom Kippur by fasting and refraining from certain pleasurable…
The Chazon Ish
Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, known as the Chazon Ish, was considered to be one of the most important rabbinic voices in Europe and Israel in the period before World War II and its…
Vayeira 5782-2021
“The Akeida” (updated and revised from Vayeira 5762-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald It took quite a few years of preparing weekly Torah messages for me to work up the courage to…
Shop Now
Learn more about, and purchase some of the special simanim, the symbolic foods that are eaten on Rosh Hashana, so that you will be able to recite the special prayers and enjoy them as we…
Happy Bow Tie Day
Tomorrow is Bow Tie Day, which is celebrated annually on August 28th. The bow tie originated in the 17th century with Croatian soldiers who wore them as part of their uniforms in the…
Right Foot First
Some people might find it surprising that the sages discussed certain “best practices” for getting dressed. For instance, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, an abridged compendium of the laws…