Shemini 5765-2005
"The Little Steps that Lead to Big Accomplishments" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Shemini, we encounter Moses and Aaron on the eve of one of the most…
Weekly Message,Acharei Mot,Kedoshim
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5778-2018
“The Extreme Sanctity of the Holy of Holies--Revisited” In parashat Acharei Mot, the first of this week’s double parashiyot, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, we learn of the prohibition to enter the…
Tetzaveh/Purim 5777-2017
“Transformations" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Almost half of this week’s entire parasha, fully 43 verses of parashat Tetzaveh, are devoted to the detailed description of the priestly…
Passover II /Final Days 5778-2018
“Passover: The Final Days ” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald According to the Torah (Numbers 28:16-25), there are seven official days of Passover. In Israel, the first day and the final…
Shemini 5783-2023
“The Little Steps that Lead to Big Accomplishments” (updated and revised from Shemini 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As the narrative of this week’s parasha, parashat Shemini,…
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5769-2009
"Blood–the Essence of Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Tzav, the Torah declares rather definitively, (Leviticus 7:26), "V'chol dahm lo toch'loo b'chol mohsh'voh'taychem,"…
Vayechi 5769-2009
"Blessing the Children" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Blessing children plays a crucial role in parashat Vayechi. First, old Jacob blesses Joseph's children, Ephraim and Menashe, and then…
Terumah 5762-2002
"The Centrality of Torah" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's Torah portion, parashat Terumah, G-d speaks to Moshe and instructs him to build for Him a sanctuary, so that…
Vayishlach 5783-2022
“We Can Forgive the Arabs for Killing Our Children...” (updated and revised from Vayishlach 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we increase our knowledge of Torah, we cannot help…
Sukkot 5774-2013
"Half for You, and Half for G-d" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In parashat Emor, the Torah states that creative labor is forbidden on the first and seventh day of the festival of Passover.…