Behar 5782-2022
“Understanding Hebrew and Canaanite Servitude” (updated and revised from Behar 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Behar, we learn of the laws of the…
Shemini 5784-2024
“Those Remarkable Dietary Laws” (updated and revised from Shemini 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, contains an extensive excursion into the…
Passover 2024-5784
Urgent message: It’s hard to believe that after all these months since the murderous attack on October 7th, that the most challenging situation in Israel continues, not only with little…
Passover I 5765-2005
"In Every Generation" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Although the scheduled Torah portion for this week is Acharei Mot, I would like to dwell on the theme of Passover, since the festival…
Weekly Message,Va'eira,Genesis
Va’eira 5773-2013
"The ‘Outstretched Arm’ and the ‘Mighty Hand’" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Va’eira, the process of the Israelites’ redemption from Egypt begins, as the…
B’ha’alot’cha 5773-2013
"Contemporary Implications of Ancient Rebellions" by Rabbi Ephaim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’ha’alot’cha, we read of two egregious rebellions that occurred on the…
Kee Teitzei 5773-2013
"The ‘Mitzvah’ of Divorce, Revisited" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei, speaks of the "mitzvah" of divorce. Although we have previously discussed the…
Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5774-2014
“Repentance-With a Little Help from our Friend in Heaven!” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Nitzavim, the first of this week’s double parashiot, Nitzavim-Vayeilech, we read the…
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…
