Rosh Hashana 5784-2023

“Actions and their Implications” (updated and revised from Rosh Hashana 5766-2005) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The celebration of the Jewish New Year is entirely unlike the secular New…

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Shelach 5769-2009

"Long-Term Consequences" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Shelach, we are told of the twelve scouts who were sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan in…

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Rosh Hashana Essay

Rosh Hashana Essay “Elul is the time to look back over the past year, sort out our strengths and weaknesses, and see…

Shelach 5772-2012

"Had I Only Known!" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shelach, is a particularly depressing Torah portion. It is sad not only because of the evil report that the…

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Vayechi 5761-2001

"Revealing the Time of the Coming of the End of Days" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Vayechi, is the only "sealed" parasha in the Torah, meaning that there are…

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Vayechi 5781-2021

“Revealing the Time of the Coming of the End of Days” (Updated and revised from parashat Vayechi 5761-2001) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, is the…

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Resident Alien

Perhaps you are familiar with the Hebrew term “ger,” derived from the Hebrew term “lagoor” - to dwell or sojourn. While ger is often translated as stranger, it is also the Hebrew term for…

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Kee Tavo 5765-2005

"Contemporary Implications of an Ancient Ritual" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In our analysis of parashat Kee Tavo for 2003/5763, we reviewed the message of the extraordinary confession…

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Satmar’s Grandfather

When an important decision needs to be made, people often consider the consequences of their decisions taking into consideration, of course, the near future and the long term goals. Once…

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Holocaust Memorial Day

Yom HashoahHolocaust Memorial Day On the 27th of Nisan, Jews around the world will mark Yom Ha’shoah…