Kinnot

KinnotMany devastating events took place on the 9th of Av. This is why the Jewish people consider it the saddest day on the…

B’shalach 5768-2008

"Finding Meaning in the Lost Verses" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald There can hardly be a more dramatic or more exciting parasha than parashat B'shalach! The parasha features the actual…

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Behar-Bechukotai 5761-2001

"Setting A New Standard of Ethics" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This coming week, we once again read two parashiot, Behar and Bechukotai. In parashat Behar, Leviticus 25, verse 14, we find…

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Bamidbar 5768-2008

"Moses: A Spiritual Father" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In the third chapter of parashat Bamidbar we are told of the progeny of Moses and Aaron and about the appointment of the Levites…

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B’ha’alot’cha 5767-2007

"The Tribe of Dan Traveled Last" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Beha'alotecha, we read of the first journey in the wilderness that the people of Israel took…

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Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5772-2012

"Respect for Elders" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The double portions of Acharei-Mot and Kedoshim together contain a total of 79 mitzvot, more than one seventh of all the mitzvot in the…

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Vayigash 5775-2014

"Joseph Calms His Brothers" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayigash, Joseph dramatically reveals himself to his brothers. Scripture reports that Joseph…

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Passover II /Final Days 5778-2018

“Passover: The Final Days ” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald According to the Torah (Numbers 28:16-25), there are seven official days of Passover. In Israel, the first day and the final…

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Kee Tavo 5783-2023

"The Centrality of Joy in Jewish Observance" (updated and revised from Kee Tavo 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Kee Tavo is one of the two parashiot in the Torah that…

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Va’etchanan 5770-2010

"Moses Blames the People for His Fate" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As this week's parasha, parashat Va'etchanan, opens, Moses pleads with G-d to allow him to enter the land of Israel. In…

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