Purims Plus in Tripoli
Throughout history, Jews have faced times of peril, and when the times of danger were over, Jews always found different ways to express their gratitude to God for their survival. In quite…
Fasting on Friday
The general rule of Jewish fast days is that they cannot occur on Friday. This rule is meant to protect the joy and happiness of Shabbat, for the sages felt that entering Shabbat hungry…
Fasting on Friday
The general rule of Jewish fast days is that they cannot occur on Friday. This rule is meant to protect the joy and happiness of Shabbat, for the sages felt that entering Shabbat hungry…
Chanukah and Divine Order
Chanukah always overlaps with at least one Shabbat (if not two), and since Chanukah begins on the 25th of Kislev and lasts for eight days, the holiday always coincides with the…
Vayechi 5778-2017
“Blessing the Children--Revisited” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, is chock-full of blessings. Before his passing, Jacob not only blesses his…
Vayechi 5774-2013
“Reconciliation and Death” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, we learn of the passing of two great historic personages, Jacob and his beloved son,…
Vayechi 5776-2015
“Jacob Maintains a Bitter Grudge Against Simeon and Levi” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, Jacob blesses his twelve sons prior to his death. Even…
Vayigash 5777-2017
“No ‘Man’ was with Joseph” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayigash, the extraordinary story of Joseph and his brothers reaches its dramatic conclusion as…
Vayechi 5779-2018
“Jacob Blesses His Grandchildren” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, is a parasha that contains an abundance of blessings. In the early part of the…
Vayechi 5780-2020
"The Critical Importance of Timing" (updated and revised from Vayechi 5760-1999) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Vayechi, includes almost a full chapter…