Hide The Knives

Rabbi Yosef Caro, author of the legal compendium the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, relates the disturbing story of a man who became so emotional while reciting the third…

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Terumah 5770-2010

"Earning a Meaningful Living" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Terumah is the first of the five concluding parashiot of the book of Exodus that describe the building of the…

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Lech Lecha 5769-2008

"A Blessing on Your Head" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Blessings play a key role in Judaism. Not surprisingly, there are a vast number of them in Jewish life. There are blessings for…

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How We Prepare

How We Prepare Preparation for Yom Kippur begins during the first ten days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, beginning with Rosh…

Va’etchanan-Tisha B’Av 5762-2002

"Loving the Land of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's Torah portion, parashat Va'etchanan, is an extremely rich parasha. The parasha opens with Moshe's plea to G-d to allow…

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Tzav 5770-2010

"The Command" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Tzav, the Al-mighty says to Moses (Leviticus 6:2): "Tzav et Aharon v'et bah'nahv lay'mor: Zoht toh'raht…

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Vayeira 5772-2011

“Were Lot’s Daughters Moral or Immoral?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeira, Abraham famously bargains with G-d in order to save the cities of Sodom and…

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Pinchas 5772-2012

“Transferring Power” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, we learn of the transfer of the leadership of Israel from Moses to Joshua. In Numbers 27:12,…

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Vayigash 5766-2006

"And Judah Approached" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayigash, Judah approaches Joseph, the all-powerful viceroy of Egypt, to plead with him on behalf of his…

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Chukat 5775-2015

“Accepting the Inscrutable” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Chukat, we learn of the statute of the Red Cow, also known as the Red Heifer. The ashes of an…

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