Joseph, Son of Jacob

The story of Jacob’s eleventh son is a tale of epic proportion. The firstborn of barren Rachel, Joseph was his father’s favorite child, and Jacob never hesitated to display his feelings…

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Isaac, Son of Abraham

Born to aged parents (Sarah was 90, Abraham was 100), Isaac was Abraham’s sole heir. This meant more than inheriting his wealth, it meant becoming the leading advocate of monotheism.…

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Isaac, Son of Abraham

Born to aged parents (Sarah was 90, Abraham was 100), Isaac was Abraham’s sole heir. This meant more than inheriting his wealth, it meant becoming the leading advocate of monotheism.…

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Korach 5761-2001

"Achieving The Good Life by Picking The Right Mate" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Korach, we read of Korach's great rebellion against Moshe. Korach,…

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Korach 5780-2020

“Achieving the Good Life by Picking the Right Mate” (updated and revised from parashat Korach 5761-2001)   by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week’s parasha, parashat…

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Shelach 5781-2021

“What’s in a Name?” (updated and revised from Shelach 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s Torah portion, parashat Shelach, the Torah recounts the fateful saga of the…

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Shelach 5762-2002

"What's in a Name?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's Torah portion, parashat Shelach, the Torah tells of the twelve men who were sent to scout the land of Canaan, and…

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Pinchas 5768-2008

"The Zealotry of Pinchas as Seen Through the Midrash" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Last week's parasha, parashat Balak, closed with the story of Pinchas' zealotry. As we read in that…

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Vayishlach 5768-2007

"The Birth of Benjamin, The Death of Rachel" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayishlach, we read of an occasion that should have been a most joyous event in…

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Vayishlach 5775-2014

“She Called His Name ‘Ben Oni’” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayishlach, Jacob, after many years of separation, finally reunites with his long-estranged…

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