Bo 5766-2006
"Transformations" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Bo, we are informed that after the plagues of locusts and darkness strike the Egyptians, the first…
Tazria-Metzorah 5767-2007
"The Conundrum of Childbirth" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Again, because of the calendrical nuances, this week's parashiot, Tazriah-Metzorah, are combined. While both parashiot deal…
Re’eh 5761-2001
"Charity! The Investment with the Greatest Return" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Re'eh, is a truly edifying portion, and is filled with many…
Re’eh 5779-2019
“Charity! The Investment That Keeps Giving” (Revised and updated from Re’eh 5760-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Re’eh, is a truly edifying Torah portion,…
Balak 5767-2007
"The Enemy Within" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald One of the most intriguing and perplexing patterns found in Scripture is the frequent emergence of evil from good and good from evil. Adam…
Vayigash 5770-2009
"How Much is Enough?" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayigash, Joseph dramatically reveals himself to his brothers and instructs them to bring his father…
Re’eh 5770-2010
"The Blessing and the Curse" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Re'eh, Moses appeals to the Jewish people to faithfully abide by G-d's commandments, adjuring…
The Surgery Is Elective
In the late twentieth century, there was, according to anecdotal evidence, an epidemic of “deviated septum” among American Jewish girls. The implication, along with many not-so-funny…
Shoftim 5779-2019
“War, the Jewish Community and Jewish Family Life” (Revised and updated from Shoftim 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shoftim, we learn, in great…
Saturday Night Hunger
As beautiful as Shabbat is, it was not God’s intention that humankind live in a constant state of Shabbat. Indeed, it has been understood that because the Torah says, “Six days you shall…