The Morning Blessings-Blessing #13: ISrael’s Strength

Every morning, a set of 15 blessings is recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai…

Read More

A Lullaby Blessing

In the Talmud (Berachot 5a), Rabbi Yitzchak is quoted saying: "Whoever recites the Bedtime Shema is as though he held a two-edged sword in his hand [to protect him against demons]...”…

Read More

The Morning Blessings-Blessing #10: The Ground Beneath

Every morning, a set of 15 blessings is recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai…

Read More

The Morning Blessings-Blessing #9: Standing Tall

Every morning, a set of 15 blessings is recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai…

Read More

Sabbath Prayers: Birkat Ha’banim/Blessing the Children

On Friday nights, it is traditional for parents to give special blessings to their children. There are different blessings for boys and girls, but they share the same concluding verses:…

Read More

The Morning Blessings-Blessing #1: Night and Day

Every morning, a set of 15 blessings are recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy and capable human beings, are capable of doing. The blessings start…

Read More

Toledot 5772-2011

“Isaac Blesses His Sons” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Toledot, we learn how Isaac’s intentions to bless Esau are thwarted by the deceptive actions of…

Read More

Toledot 5782-2021

“The Deception of Isaac” (updated and revised from Toledot 5762-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Toledot, we encounter the well-known, and rather…

Read More

The Seder

The Sedar The highlight of Passover is the Seder, and for many, the Seder evokes powerful childhood memories. But what exactly…

Toledot 5762-2001

"The Deception of Isaac" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Toledot, we encounter in Genesis 27 the well known story of Isaac's attempt to bless Esau.…

Read More