Can You Count To 49?

There is a Biblical commandment (Leviticus 23:15) to count the 49 days that immediately follow the first night of Passover and, on the 50th night, to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot.…

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Not One, Not Two

Ever hear someone count out loud in the negatives: "Not one, not two, not three..." It may seem, strange, but in many traditional Jewish communities this is a common method for counting…

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Bamidbar 5762-2002

"Counting on the People of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Bamidbar, the Jews are found in the wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the…

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Bamidbar 5781-2021

“Counting on the People of Israel" (updated and revised from Bamidbar 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As this week’s parasha, parashat Bamidbar, opens, the Jews are found in the…

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Emor 5774-2014

“The Sadducees and the Counting of the Omer” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Among the 63 mitzvot (24 positive and 39 negative) found in this week’s parasha, parashat Emor, is the mitzvah of…

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Emor-Yom Ha’atzmaut 5763-2003

"The Counting of the Omer and the Celebration of Israel's Independence" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Emor, coincides with the celebration of Yom Ha'atzma'ut,…

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Lag Ba’Omer

Lag Ba'Omer33rd of the Omer Table of Contents Lag Ba’Omer Rabbi Akiva – Hero and Martyr Rabbi Shimon…

Passover

- The first seder is held the evening of Passover (Pesach) Passover commemorates the Exodus of the Jews…

Kee Tisah 5767-2007

"Making Each Person Count" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, Parashat Kee Tisah, we read of the machatzit ha'shekel, the half shekel that was donated by all adult male…

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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…

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