Tazria-Metzorah 5773-2013

"Ritual Impurity and Tzaraat: A Contemporary Understanding" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s double parashiot, Tazria and Metzorah, are among the most complex Torah portions for…

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Tazria 5782-2022  

“Tzaraat—The Spiritual-Dermatological Disease” (updated and revised from Tazria 5763-2003)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tazria, as well as parashat…

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Tzav 5772-2012

“Spiritual Movements in the Life of a Jew” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, continues the theme that dominates much of the book of Leviticus: the roles of…

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Talk to the Expert

One of the greatest dangers of the age of the internet is the abuse of medical information by lay people with no medical training, who suspect that they may be ill. Whether it is a…

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B’ha’alot’cha 5768-2008

"The Gift of Spiritual Potential" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In response to Moses' complaint that he cannot bear the burden of the people of Israel alone, G-d instructs Moses to select…

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Vayikra 5777-2017

“רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ --A Sweet Savor unto the L-rd” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, parashat Vayikra, we begin reading the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, which is…

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Sukkot 5770-2009

"Sukkot: The Dialectic of a Festival" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The festival of Sukkot is referred to in the Torah (Exodus 34:22) as "Chag Ha'ah'sif," the festival of the ingathering. It…

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Kee Teitzei 5772-2012

"The Sanctity of the Camp of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei, contains 74 mitzvot-- more mitzvot than any other portion of the Torah. 27 are…

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B’ha’alot’cha 5773-2013

"Contemporary Implications of Ancient Rebellions" by Rabbi Ephaim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’ha’alot’cha, we read of two egregious rebellions that occurred on the…

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Yitro 5777-2017

“The Earthen Altar: Reaching up to Heaven"   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald At the very end of this week’s parasha, parashat Yitro, immediately following the Ten Commandments, the…

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