Kee Tisah 5783-2023
“The Story of Esther--Making Choices for Jewish Destiny” (updated and revised from Kee Tisah 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Because the joyous festival of Purim will be…
Tzav 5783-2023
“Making the Menial Hallowed and the Mundane Holy” (updated and revised from Tzav 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, continues the theme of…
Cooked Wine
Among the discussions of the many details of Jewish life recorded in the Mishna, the first written compilation of the oral law, is the following: “If a Jewish laborer is hired by a…
Cooked Wine
Among the discussions of the many details of Jewish life recorded in the Mishna, the first written compilation of the oral law, is the following: “If a Jewish laborer is hired by a…
Terumah 5768-2008
"The Museum within the Tabernacle" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Terumah, G-d tells Moses to speak to the people of Israel and instruct them to prepare for…
Tetzaveh/Purim 5777-2017
“Transformations" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Almost half of this week’s entire parasha, fully 43 verses of parashat Tetzaveh, are devoted to the detailed description of the priestly…
Nice and Simple
It is a fairly well-known fact that there is a traditional Jewish dress code. For many people, that concept - “traditional Jewish dress” - may bring to mind scenes of Fiddler on the Roof;…
Forever Fashions
When the Children of Israel left Egypt, they did not expect to be in the wilderness for 40 years. (Indeed, 38 years were added to their journey because the generation that left Egypt…
Judaism,All Audience,Bo,Literacy,Weekly Message
Bo 5780-2020
“Rational Love and Emotional Love: A Lesson from Tefillin” (revised and updated from Bo 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bo, we read about…
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.…