Devarim,Weekly Message,Tisha b'Av
Devarim-Tisha B’Av 5767-2007
"Zion Shall be Redeemed through Justice" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald On Monday night, July 23 and all day Tuesday, July 24, 2007, the fast of Tisha b'Av, the 9th of Av, will be observed.…
Devarim,Tisha b'Av,Weekly Message
Devarim-Tisha B’Av 5762-2002
"Judging Our People Favorably" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's Torah portion, parashat Devarim, is always read prior to Tisha b'Av, the fast of the Ninth of Av (observed on…
First On The Court
Born in 1856, in Louisville, Kentucky, Louis Dembitz Brandeis was the child of European immigrants who maintained a minimal Jewish identity. However, his maternal uncle, Lewis Dembitz,…
Devarim 5781-2021
“Judging Our People Favorably” (Updated and revised from Devarim 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Devarim, is always read prior to Tisha b’Av,…
Rosh Hashana 5771-2010
"G-d’s Struggle to Repent" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Talmud, in Brachot 7a, reports two similar stories about prayer. Rabbi Yohanan asks in the name of Rabbi Yosi: How do we know…
Words of Protest
Today is the World Day of Social Justice, a perfect topic for Jewish Treats, as Jewish law often addresses issues of social justice. There are halachot (laws) that dictate giving tzedakah…
Gevurah – Strength
The second week of Sefirat Ha’Omer, the counting of the days between Passover and Shavuot, is dedicated to the Sephirah of Gevurah - Strength. (For an explanation of the sephirot, please…
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…
Mishpatim 5762-2002
"'An Eye for an Eye' in Jewish Law" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Mishpatim, the Torah introduces the fundamental legal system of Israel. Both,…
Shoftim 5769-2009
"The Torah Declares War on Bribery" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Shoftim, we again encounter the Torah's emphatic injunction against taking bribes.…