Torah, To What Can I Compare Thee?
Various biblical verses and rabbinic texts often compare the Torah to different natural resources, in order to teach us about the greatness of the Torah in terms that can be more readily…
Mourning Jerusalem I: A Brief History of the First Temple
Next Wednesday night and Thursday (July 26th and 27th), Jews the world over will be observing the fast of Tisha b’Av. It is on this day of the Hebrew calendar that the Jewish people mourn…
Birthday of the World
According to Jewish tradition, this Friday night, when Rosh Hashana begins, the world will be 5784 years old. This claim easily stirs up sharp debate. How, it is often asked, can one say…
Avinu Malkeinu
No prayer so thoroughly captures the Jewish people’s dual relationship with God as Avinu Malkeinu, “Our Father, Our King.” While Avinu Malkeinu is a prayer widely known to be part of the…
Build Your Own Sukkah
Webster’s Dictionary defines a Tabernacle as a temporary dwelling, which is why the Jewish holiday of Sukkot is known as the Feast of the Tabernacles. A sukkah, however, is a lot more…
The Bird of Thanks
On Thanksgiving Day, it is customary in the United States to eat a turkey dinner. The Hebrew name for turkey is “tar’negol hodu,” literally, an “Indian Rooster.” It came by this name…
Noah 5770-2009
"The Message of the Rainbow" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Noah, tells the story of the great flood that inundated the world in the days of Noah. After the…
Re’eh 5761-2001
"Charity! The Investment with the Greatest Return" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Re'eh, is a truly edifying portion, and is filled with many…
Kee Tavo 5761-2001
"There are Stones with Human Hearts" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, Moshe transmits to the Jewish people some of the particular laws and…
B’ha’alot’cha 5760-2000
"Giving Our Disciples A Firm Grounding" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Beha'alotecha, G-d speaks to Moshe and says to him (Numbers 8:2): "Daber el…