Jewish Treats

Why Were Scouts of the Promised Land Needed?

The most devastating punishment meted out by God in the Torah is described in this week’s Torah portion, parashat Shelach. God commands Moses to send 12 scouts – one representing each…

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Jewish Treats

Ushpeezin (pronounced Oo’shpee’zin)

During the festival of Sukkot, the sukkah is intended to be our home. For example, since dining normally takes place in the house, on Sukkot dining takes place in the sukkah. Because the…

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Jewish Treats

Lancaster Jews

Many people do not realize that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home to the famous Amish community, was one of the few active Jewish communities during the colonial era and has the fourth oldest…

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Jewish Treats

Serach’s Serenade

Upon perusing the list of the generations of Jacob found in Genesis chapter 46, it is likely to conclude that there was a powerful genetic predisposition in Jacob’s family for male…

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Mikeitz,Weekly Message

Mikeitz 5783-2022

“In Those Days, in These Times” (updated and revised from Mikeitz 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously noted, the story of Joseph may be seen as the story of an…

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Jewish Treats

Ushpeezin (pronounced Oo’shpee’zin)

During the festival of Sukkot, the sukkah is intended to be our home. For example, since dining normally takes place in the house, on Sukkot, dining takes place in the sukkah. Because the…

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Jewish Treats

Learning From Others

Listen closely to another person’s advice since it’s quite possible that they are sharing their wisdom and thereby providing you with a valuable life lesson. In parashat Miketz, this…

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Jewish Treats

My Father. Our Father

Many well-known Jewish songs are based on words from the Bible. While a vast majority of them are based on Tehillim (Psalms) one of the most famous is almost a direct quote from Genesis:…

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Jewish Treats

Love and Reverence

This Shabbat, think about all the wonderful gifts that you have been given by our Father in heaven. When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers with the words “I am Joseph,” why did he…

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Vayeira,Weekly Message

Vayeira 5760-1999

"The Preciousness of Hospitality" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As this week's parasha, parashat Vayeira, opens, aged Abraham, 99 years old, is sitting at the entrance of his tent in the…

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