Kee Tisah 5779-2019

“The ‘Vengeful’ G-d” (Revised and updated from Kee Tisah 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tisah, we read of the infamous episode of the Golden…

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Vayikra-Purim 5763-2003

"Parashat Zachor: 'Hating as a Mitzvah?'" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Since the festival of Purim will be celebrated this coming Monday night, March 17th and Tuesday, March 18th, this…

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Bo 5782-2022

“Rituals Work, Rituals Work!” (updated and revised from Bo 5762-2002) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Bo, describes the final three plagues: locusts, darkness…

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Vayikra 5784-2024

“Parashat Zachor: 'Hating as a Mitzvah'" (updated and revised from Vayikra 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Since the festival of Purim will be celebrated this coming Saturday…

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Kee Tisah 5760-2000

"The 'Vengeful' G-d" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In the parasha, Parashat Kee Tisah, we read of the infamous episode of the Golden Calf. In preparation for the Revelation, Moses had gone…

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Mishpatim 5773-2013

"Judaism’s Take on ‘Majority Rules’" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Mishpatim is a treasure-trove of Jewish law that serves as the basis for much of Jewish…

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Toledot 5775-2014

“Good Families Bad Children, Bad Families Good Children” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Toledot, we read of the birth of Esau and Jacob, the twin sons who…

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Tetzaveh/Purim 5777-2017

“Transformations" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Almost half of this week’s entire parasha, fully 43 verses of parashat Tetzaveh, are devoted to the detailed description of the priestly…

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Toledot 5768-2007

"Esau's Loud and Bitter Cry" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Toledot, the rivalry between Esau and Jacob reaches its peak as Esau realizes that his brother…

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Holiday Greetings

The standard pre-Rosh Hashana greeting of “K’tiva v’chatima tova” ("May you…

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