Bamidbar 5774-2014
“Counting the Jews, Again!” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bamidbar, G-d speaks to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first…
Terumah 5777-2017
“ זִיכּוּי הָרַבִּים - Meriting the Broader Jewish Community” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, we read of the commandment to build a Tabernacle, a…
Chayei Sarah 5782-2021
“Raising Jewish Children in a Challenging Environment” (updated and revised from Chayei Sarah 5762-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Chayei Sarah, opens…
Tetzaveh 5782-2022
“The Primacy of Jewish Education” (updated and revised from Tetzaveh 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In last week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, we read of the appeal that was made…
Kee Tisah 5764-2004
"Limitless Leadership" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Kee Tisah, we read of the fateful sin of the people of Israel with the Golden Calf. While the…
Lag Ba’omer
The period of mourning* (for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died of plague) associated with Sefirat Ha'Omer is not observed on the 33rd day of the Omer, a day known…
He Shall Be Praised
Many of us remember learning to write research papers in school. Critical to receiving a good grade was composing a proper concluding paragraph to serve as a summation. While the prayer…
Lag Ba’omer
The period of mourning* (for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died of plague) associated with Sefirat Ha’omer is not observed on the 33rd day of the Omer, a day known…
Rejoice in Reverence: Play the Lottery
It would be the height of irreverence if one were to come to synagogue on Yom Kippur dressed in a light-hearted or comedic costume. Imagine chanting the deeply inspiring and…
Lag Ba’omer
The period of mourning* (for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died of plague) associated with Sefirat Ha’omer is not observed on the 33rd day of the Omer, a day known…