Jewish Treats

The Importance of Fences

Transmitting words of wisdom to leaders of future generations, the Men of the Great Assembly advised: “Make a fence for the Torah” (Pirkei Avot/Ethics of the Fathers 1:1), which alludes…

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Weekly Message,Shelach

Shelach 5780-2020

“The Torah’s Definition of ‘Power'” (Revised and Updated from Parashat Shelach 5761-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald. This coming week’s parasha, parashat Shelach, recounts the story of…

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Jewish Treats

Protecting the Torah

“Moses received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua; Joshua to the elders; the elders to the prophets; and the prophets handed it down to the men of the Great Assembly.…

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Sources Commentators

Abarbanel (1437-1508, Spanish statesman, philosopher and commentator) Israel Abrahams (1858-1925) Achad Ha’Am (Asher Zvi Hirsh Ginsberg, 1856-1927) AJOP (Association for Jewish Outreach…

Jewish Treats

In A Challenging Situation

There’s a famous pithy saying that “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This American proverb is understood as a tribute to those who step forward and take charge when faced…

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Weekly Message,Chukat

Chukat 5773-2013

"Striking the Stone: the Parameters of Anger" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Among the many topics in this week’s parasha is the report of Miriam’s death and the subsequent lack of water.…

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Weekly Message,Vayechi

Vayechi 5780-2020

"The Critical Importance of Timing" (updated and revised from Vayechi 5760-1999) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Vayechi, includes almost a full chapter…

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Jewish Treats

Make a Difference in This World

Study Torah and find ways to improve and perfect the world that we inhabit. Learn more in the second Mishna of the first Chapter of Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers about the three…

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Jewish Treats

The Way It’s Tied

Appreciate how every action in Jewish life, even seemingly mundane ones like tying a bow tie on Shabbat, potentially have implications under Jewish law. This Shabbat, the Jewish community…

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Jewish Treats

From Them I Learned

Our modern media culture likes to "label" successful people: The richest person, the prettiest person, the person of the year and etc. And because our culture is so influenced by the…

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