A Kosher Buffet

While it seems a bit counterintuitive to have a day celebrating abundant eating the day after a national holiday, nevertheless, January 2nd is celebrated as “Buffet Day.” The concept of a…

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Waiting For Ice Cream

According to the Talmudic sage Mar Ukva, his father waited an entire day between eating meat and eating dairy in order to avoid transgressing the prohibition of eating milk and meat…

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Yom Kippur 5771-2010

"When Yom Kippur Occurs on Shabbat" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Hebrew calendar is designed so that Yom Kippur can never fall on Friday or Sunday. To prevent Yom Kippur from…

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Eikev 5765-2005

"Understanding Birkat Hamazon, the Grace After Meals" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Eikev, we are told of the mitzvah of reciting Birkat…

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Tisha b’Av

Tisha b’Av The saddest day in the Jewish calendar, believed to be a day which is destined for tragedy.  Guide…

Noah 5766-2005

"The Seven Commandments Given to the Descendants of Noah" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Noah, G-d blesses Noah and his children after the Flood, and graces…

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Eikev 5769-2009

"Feeding the Animals–Beasts and Humans" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Eikev, we encounter the well known second paragraph of the daily Shema prayer…

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Tazria 5765-2005

"Some Important Lessons That We Learn from the Ancient Biblical Tzara'at" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The primary theme of this week's parasha, parashat Tazria, is the ancient Biblical…

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Tazria 5784-2024

Urgent message: It’s hard to believe that more than six months have passed since the murderous attack on October 7th, and that the most challenging situation in Israel continues, with…

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Shemini 5778-2018

“Kashrut and Copepods” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, is one of two parshiyot (the other is Re’eh, Deuteronomy 14:3-21) that serve as the main sources…

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