Conquering the Desert
One of the great miracles of the State of Israel has been its ability to transform desert into blooming arable land. In 1867 Mark Twain described the land in one of his memoirs: “The…
Read That Back
Did you know that even in the days of the Talmud there was such a position as court stenographer? The establishment of a court system and a clear system of justice are fundamental mitzvot…
An Eye For Civil Law
You’ve heard the phrase “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand...” And you’ve likely heard frightening stories of societies in which this biblical rule is applied…
Shoftim 5764-2004
"Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Shoftim--the name means "judges" or "magistrates," and this parasha deals essentially with the ethical and…
Right Foot First
Some people might find it surprising that the sages discussed certain “best practices” for getting dressed. For instance, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, an abridged compendium of the laws…
Shoftim 5783-2023
“Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue” (updated and revised from Shoftim 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Shoftim--the name means “judges” or “magistrates,” deals…
Mishpatim 5781-2021
“‘An Eye for an Eye’ in Jewish Law” (updated and revised from Mishpatim 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Mishpatim, the Torah introduces the…
The Knesset
To understand the development of the Israeli parliamentary system in the Knesset, study the history of the British system of government and consider some of the similarities of both.
The Knesset
To understand the creation and the development of the Israeli parliamentary system in the Knesset, study the history of the British system of government and consider some of the…
Shemini 5760 – 2000
"Substance Abuse in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Shemini, opens with the majestic ceremony marking the consecration of Aaron and his sons as…