Bechukotai 5771-2011

"Peace--The Greatest of All Blessings" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Bechukotai, is one of two parashiot that include the Tochachah, G-d’s reproof of the Jewish…

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Lech Lecha 5769-2008

"A Blessing on Your Head" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Blessings play a key role in Judaism. Not surprisingly, there are a vast number of them in Jewish life. There are blessings for…

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Vayechi 5764-2004

"Can It Be a Mitzvah to Lie?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The late great Bible teacher, Nehama Leibowitz, alerts us to a major issue that appears in the narrative of this week's parasha,…

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Vayeira 5769-2008

"'Shalom Bayit', Little White Lies" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Vayeira, Abraham receives the stunning news from the three "guests" whom he has welcomed into his home, that…

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Hilly Gross’ Speech

Hilly Gross' SpeechAt the 10th Anniversary of the Lincoln Square Beginners Service, Hilly Gross describes what happened when…

Pinchas 5773-2013

“The Lesson of the Broken Vav” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, we learn the identities of the two defiant people who committed an act of public…

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Hillel Gross’ Response to the Beginners at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the LSS Beginners Service (Feb 23, 1986)

The video of the live performance of this speech: "I am here tonight on what I fear is a totally vain effort to restore some perspective to this orgy of self-congratulations that you…

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Heard About the Jews in Suriname?

Located on the north-east coast of South America, Suriname has a small Jewish community with a long history. Today, this smallest of South American countries has approximately 200 Jews,…

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Tazria-Metzorah 5770-2010

"The Human Animal" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald On three of the next four Shabbatot, the Torah readings will consist of combined parashiot. The main reason for the doubling up is to make…

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Tazria-Metzorah 5767-2007

"The Conundrum of Childbirth" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Again, because of the calendrical nuances, this week's parashiot, Tazriah-Metzorah, are combined. While both parashiot deal…

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