Tazria 5779-2019

“Death and Life are in the 'Hands' of the Tongue!” (Revised and updated from Tazria 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week’s parasha, parashat Tazria, deals mostly with…

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Naso 5779-2019

"Traditional Judaism: Fundamentalist or Ascetic" (Revised and updated from Naso 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   In this week’s parasha, parashat Naso, we encounter the…

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Tazria 5760-2000

"Death and Life are in the 'Hands' of the Tongue!" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Tazria, deals mostly with the issue of Lashon Hara, speaking evil of…

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B’shalach 5770-2010

"Va'chamushim - Armed or Otherwise" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat B'shalach, after enduring slavery for 110 years (by rabbinic count), the Israelites are…

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Yitro 5770-2010

"The Arrival of Jethro" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Yitro, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, arrives at the camp of the People of Israel, located by the…

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Naso 5760-2000

"Traditional Judaism: Fundamentalist or Ascetic" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Naso, we encounter the curious law of the Nazir, the Nazarite. In…

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Matot 5768-2008

"Striving for Refined Speech" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Matot, we learn of the laws that govern vows and oaths, known in Hebrew as nedarim and…

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Bechukotai 5771-2011

"Peace--The Greatest of All Blessings" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Bechukotai, is one of two parashiot that include the Tochachah, G-d’s reproof of the Jewish…

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B’ha’a’lot’cha 5775-2015

“Hubris Revisited” By Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’ha’a’lot’cha, G-d tells Moses to instruct Aaron concerning the lighting of the Menorah, the seven…

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Shoftim 5776-2016

“The Dangers of Pridefulness" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald One of the fascinating topics that we find in this week’s parasha, parashat Shoftim, is the Torah’s prediction that in the…

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