Bamidbar 5780-2020
"Jewish Continuity through Family Structure” (Updated and revised from Bamidbar 5761-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bamidbar, G-d instructs Moses to…
Matot-Masei 5782-2022
“The Massacre of the Midianites: Does Judaism Countenance Genocide?” (Updated and revised from Matot-Masei 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald At the conclusion of parashat Balak,…
Weekly Message,Genesis,Bereshith
Bereshith 5776-2015
“Seth--Adam and Eve’s Little-Known Son” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bereshith, murder is introduced to the world, and the first instance of fratricide is…
Vayeitzei 5780-2019
“Who is the Real Enemy?” (Updated and revised from Vayeitzei 5760-1999) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, we read of Jacob’s flight from…
Yitro 5768-2008
"Welcoming Jethro, the Idolatrous Priest" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Yitro, we read of the arrival of Moses' father-in-law in the wilderness, where the…
The Emperor’s Nephew
“A man should always complete the Torah portion together [at the same time] with the congregation, [reading] twice the Hebrew text and once the [Aramaic] Targum... [if he does so,] his…
Goodly Tents
Much of Jewish life is built around community. Jews often live in close proximity to each other, in many instances with a synagogue or synagogues at the center of their neighborhoods. As…
B’shalach 5775-2015
“One Heart, as One Man” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’shalach, we read of the triumphant departure of the People of Israel from Egypt, and their…
The Morning Blessings: Mah Tovu / Good Tents
While this beautiful verse was initially stated by Balaam, a fierce enemy of the Jewish people, the sages saw it as the greatest praise. Mah tovu, o’ha’lehcha Ya’akov, mish’k’no’techa…
Matot-Masei 5773-2013
“Pinchas Avenges the Midianites” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In last week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, we read of how Pinchas the son of Elazar kills Zimri and Cozbi, who had performed a…