The Shemittah Food Co-Op
In the land of Israel today, they are well into the year of Shemittah (the sabbatical seventh year during which farmers let the land lay fallow). Since last Rosh Hashana, many Jewish…
Words of Protest
Today is the World Day of Social Justice, a perfect topic for Jewish Treats, as Jewish law often addresses issues of social justice. There are halachot (laws) that dictate giving tzedakah…
The Inanity of the Blood Libel
Of all the unfounded accusations leveled at the Jewish people by anti-Semites throughout the ages, the most ludicrous is that of the blood libel, that of Jews murdering non-Jewish…
Gleaning Supermarket Aisles
It is nearly time for Thanksgiving, and throughout the United States communities are putting up posters for holiday food drives. Giving food to the poor is certainly one of the oldest…
What’s In The Book: Obadiah
The Book of Obadiah is the shortest book of Tanach (Biblical canon), only one chapter long. It is directed at the nation of Edom, not at either of the Jewish kingdoms. Obadiah spoke out…
The Bond of Brothers
Caring for the psychological well-being of children (and adults) is of great concern to modern society. Of course, parents have always wanted to shield their children from pain, but, for…
A Guard of Shabbat
Two primary words of instruction are used in the Torah to command the observance of Shabbat: zachor, remember (Exodus 20:8) and shamor (Deuteronomy 5:12). According to tradition,…
Salt and Hospitality
The region of the Dead Sea (a.k.a. Yam Ha'melach - The Sea of Salt) was once the home of Sodom and Gomorrah, famous for their destruction by fire and brimstone, as recorded in Genesis 19.…
What Is Chabad?
Chabad-Lubavitch is a chassidic movement founded by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) in the White Russian town of Lubavitch. Chabad is an acronym for chochma (wisdom), binah…
Vayeitzei 5765-2004
"Rachel: Portrait of a Matriarch" Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, we are given perhaps the most extensive and most intimate view of Mother Rachel. We…