B’ha’alot’cha 5761-2001
"The Torah's Attitude Towards Converts" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's Torah portion, parashat Beha'alotecha, continues the narrative of the Jew's wanderings in the…
Pinchas 5762-2002
"Loving the Land of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Pinchas, we learn the fascinating tale of five trail-blazing young women: Machla, Noa,…
Matot 5765-2005
"Love of G-d Trumps Lust for Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Matot, G-d speaks to Moses and tells him (Numbers 31:2): "N'kom nik'mat b'nay Yisrael…
Yom Kippur 5764-2003
"Smashing the Golden Calves" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Virtually all of the holidays and festivals of the Jewish calendar revolve around important events in Jewish history. Passover…
Simchat Torah 5764-2003
"Celebrating Torah" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Because of the festivals of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we do not read the normal Torah portion this week. Instead, on Sunday,…
Weekly Message,Vayakhel,Pekudei
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5769-2009
"All For The Sake of Heaven" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashiot Vayakhel-Pekudei are, for the most part, repetitions of the instructions that are found in parashiot Terumah and…
Mikeitz 5771-2010
"Joseph’s Bold Advice to Pharaoh" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Joseph is taken from the dungeon and brought before Pharaoh, where he interprets…
Bo 5771-2011
"‘Is This What You Call Borrowing?’--Revisited" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In a previous analysis of parashat Bo (5768-2008), we presented a number of responses to the question of how…
Naso 5765-2005
"A Lesson from the N’seeim--the Tribal Leaders" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Naso, is almost always read after the festival of Shavuot, except after a…
Haazinu-Sukkot 5773-2012
"Yom Kippur: A Prelude to the Festival of Sukkot" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The four days between Yom Kippur and the festival of Sukkot are important transitional days. As often…