Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5769-2009

"Farewell to a Great Leader" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Vayeilech, the second of this week's combined parashiot, Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Moses bids a final farewell to the…

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The History of Purim

The History of Purim The story of Purim takes place at the very end of the era known in Jewish history as the Babylonian…

Vayeilech 5782-2021

“Appreciating our own Inner Worth” (updated and revised from Vayeilech 5761-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayeilech, is almost always read together…

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Vayeilech 5761-2001

"Appreciating One's Own Inner Worth" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Vayeilech , is almost always read together with the preceding parasha, Nitzavim. They are…

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Devarim-Tisha B’Av 5764-2004

"Building a 'New' Sanctuary" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Devarim, is always read on the week that precedes the Fast of the Ninth of Av (Tisha b'Av), which…

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Tzav-Purim 5771-2011

“Shabbat and Purim” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This year, the festival of Purim will be celebrated throughout the world on Saturday evening, March 19th, and Sunday, March 20th (except…

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Kee Teitzei 5777-2017

“Lessons from the Wayward Son” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei, we learn of the law of the “Ben soh’rayr oo’moh’reh,”  בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה ,…

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Fleeing in the New World

The history of the conversos, those Spanish and Portuguese Jews who hid their identities by publicly behaving as observant Catholics, is tragic not only for the horrible auto-de-fes (mass…

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Filene’s Credit Union

On June 26, 1934, Congress passed the Federal Credit Union Act, allowing for the creation of what is now known as CUNA (Credit Union National Association). Credit unions provide a safe…

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Irish Jews

The exile of the Jewish people has taken them to every corner of the earth. Jews have lived in and built communities in Europe, China, India, Central Asia, Africa, South America, North…

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