Behar 5774-2014
“So That Your Brother May Live With You” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald One of the dominant themes of parashat Behar is the Torah’s concern with those who are impoverished--to provide help…
Splitting the Atom
When asked to name a theoretical physicist, the first name to come to many young Americans would be “Sheldon Cooper,” the fictional lead character on the former hit show, “The Big Bang…
Splitting the Atom
Those who follow movie news know that one of the biggest films of 2023 has been "Oppenheimer" which chronicles the career of the famous Jewish American theoretical physicist J. Robert…
Kee Tavo 5772-2012
“Persecution’s ‘Silver Lining’” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, is one of two weekly Torah portions that contain the verses known as the “Tochacha ,”…
Noah 5774-2013
"Making a Name for Ourselves" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Noah, contains a plethora of fascinating narratives. The most famous story recorded in this week’s…
Tetzaveh 5773-2013
“The Centrality of Light” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, speaks at length of the priestly vestments. The parasha closes with a description of the…
Genesis,Bereshith,Weekly Message
Bereshith 5772-2011
“The Fall of Man” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Starting with this week’s parasha, parashat Bereshith, synagogues around the globe begin the annual cycle of reading the Torah, the Five…
Vayeitzei 5770-2009
"Punishment Awaits the Evildoers" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, we read of the deception of Jacob by his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob, of course,…
A Ten-Light Chanukah Menorah?
In a summary of the Chanukah customs of Persian Jewry (Shlomo Tal edition, 1981, pg. 189-190), three options are offered regarding how to kindle the Chanukah lights. First, the common…
The Hebrew University
Since its first official overseas program in 1955, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem has attracted hundreds of young Jewish adults from both North America and Europe. Hebrew University…