Va’eira 5783-2023

“The Exodus--A ‘Primitive’ Story with Revolutionary Implications” (updated and revised from Va’eira 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Jewish history is often perceived, with great…

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Maggid

Maggid Table of ContentsMaggid, the section of the Seder where we fulfill the mitzvah of telling the story of the Exodus, is a…

Passover Writings

Passover Writings Order in Ten Plagues by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Demystifying…Bedikat Chametz (The Search for Chametz)…

Vayigash 5774-2013

“The Dreams and the Divine Covenant” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayigash, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. After twenty-two years of separation,…

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Va’eira 5778-2018

“Participating in the Communal Pain” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   This week’s parasha, parashat Va’eira, marks the commencement of the redemption of the People of Israel from their…

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Bo 5778-2018

“Deceptions at the Behest of G-d”   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bo, we read of the final three plagues that strike the Egyptians and ultimately lead…

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Va’eira 5769-2009

"Why Didn't the Egyptians Rebel Against Pharaoh?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Va'eira, we learn of the first seven plagues that struck Egypt: Blood, frogs, lice, wild…

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Bo 5776-2016

“How Impactful was the Plague of Locusts?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bo, the Al-mighty visits the plague of locusts on Pharaoh and on the land of…

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The Sadducee King Yannai

Alexander Jannaeus (Yannai or Y’honatan in Hebrew) served as the second Hasmonean king of Judea from 103 BCE until his death in 76 BCE. The third son of John Hyrcanus, he succeeded his…

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What They Saw First

Ohrdurf Concentration Camp, located near Gotha, Germany, was a subcamp of Buchenwald. Its history was short and brutal, having only begun operation in November 1944. Indeed, other than…

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