Yom Kippur 5771-2010
"When Yom Kippur Occurs on Shabbat" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Hebrew calendar is designed so that Yom Kippur can never fall on Friday or Sunday. To prevent Yom Kippur from…
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…
Vayechi 5783-2022
“How Important is Timing?” (updated and revised from Vayechi 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, contains a series of exalted poetic verses…
Va’etchanan 5783-2023
"The Dialectic of Body and Soul" (updated and revised from Va’etchanan 5764-2004) In this week’s parasha, parashat Va’etchanan, we encounter several well-known and significant texts.…
Kee Teitzei 5771-2011
"Sending the Mother Bird Away" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei, we learn of the fascinating mitzvah of "Sheeluach Ha’Kayn," sending the mother…
Metzorah 5784-2024
Urgent message: It’s hard to believe that more than six months have passed since the murderous attack on October 7th, and that the most challenging situation in Israel continues, with…
Kee Tavo 5773-2013
"Not Rushing to Judgment" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, we learn of the Jewish farmer’s obligation to bring Bikurim from the first produce of the…
Mishpatim 5776-2016
“Jewish Women and Conjugal Rights” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Mishpatim, we learn the remarkable law of the Hebrew maidservant, known in Hebrew as,…
Passover 5777-2017
“לֶחֶם עֹנִי --Lechem Oni: The Bread of Affliction by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Two primary scriptural verses provide reasons for eating matzah, unleavened…
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…