Vayakhel,Weekly Message,Pekudei

Vayakhel-Pekudei 5762-2002

"The Original Jewish Renewal Movement" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald On this coming Shabbat we will read two parashiot, Vayakhel and Pekudei, which conclude the book of Exodus. These…

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Vayakhel,Weekly Message,Pekudei

Vayakhel-Pekudei 5781-2021

“The Original Jewish Renewal Movement” (Updated and revised from Vayakhel-Pekudei 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This Shabbat, two parashiot, Vayakhel and Pekudei, are read,…

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Purim Origins and Customs,Purim,Judaism,ArticlesLiteracy,Judaism,Purim

Hanging Haman: The Commandment to Wipe Out Amalek

Hanging Haman:The Commandment to Wipe Out Amalek “The army of Amalek swooped down from behind them, attacking the old…

Weekly Message,Shemot

Shemot 5773-2012

“The Role of Exile in Jewish History” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shemot, the book of Exodus opens with the story of the people of Israel’s enslavement…

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Vayeilech,Weekly Message,Yom Kippur

Vayeilech-Yom Kippur 5776-2015

“Living a Truly Meaningful Life” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayeilech, is certainly one of the most dramatic and touching parashiot found in the Torah. The…

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Weekly Message,Mikeitz

Mikeitz 5771-2010

"Joseph’s Bold Advice to Pharaoh" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Joseph is taken from the dungeon and brought before Pharaoh, where he interprets…

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Balak,Weekly Message

Balak 5773-2013

"Balaam’s Second Vision: Lo, a People that Rises Like a Lion" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Balak, we read of Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, and…

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Jewish Treats

Why Am I Not Interested in Idols?

There is an interesting dialogue between the elders of Rome and the sages of Israel recorded in Talmud Avodah Zarah 55a:  [Rome]: "If [your God] has no desire for idolatry, why does…

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Jewish Treats

Sweet

"There is always room for sweet things." Although this quote comes straight from the Talmud (Megillah 7b), it is a common sentiment among many cultures. In the lifetime of Abaye, the sage…

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Jewish Treats

Coveting

“Covet” is a strange word that is rarely used today except to cite the last of the Ten Commandments, “Lo Tachmod, Do not covet” (Exodus 20:14). The desire for things that others have is…

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