Va’eira 5769-2009

"Why Didn't the Egyptians Rebel Against Pharaoh?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Va'eira, we learn of the first seven plagues that struck Egypt: Blood, frogs, lice, wild…

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Bo 5764-2004

"The More Things Change..." by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Bo, the enslavement of the Jewish people comes to a dramatic conclusion with the tenth…

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B’shalach 5769-2009

"Pharaoh Sends the People of Israel out of Egypt" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat B'shalach opens with a well-known verse describing Israel's dramatic exodus from Egypt. The Bible,…

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Vayechi 5765-2004

"The Sealed Torah Portion" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Vayechi, is unique among all the parashiot of the Torah in that parashat Vayechi is literally…

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Va’eira 5768-2007

"Moses, the Exalted Leader" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Political campaigns in democratic societies have become a rather sorry sight. Candidates in the U.S. announce their candidacies,…

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Passover I 5776-2016

“The Children, The Children!” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously discussed (Passover 5760-2000), children play a central role in the Passover Seder and in the Haggadah.…

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Shemot 5783-2023

“The Making of a Concerned Jewish Leader” (updated and revised from Shemot 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With the close of the Book of Genesis, the story of Joseph has come to…

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Bo 5761-2001

"The Slave Mentality" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Bo, concludes the narrative of the ten plagues by recounting the final three plagues, locusts,…

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The Seder Plate

The Seder Plate With today’s vast variety of Passover products, grape flavored matzah, chocolate covered matzah, and…

Festival Facts

Festival Facts Table of Contents Matzah Moshe (Moses) Pharoah Matzah BakingTo guarantee that matzah is Kosher for Passover,…