With All Your Heart
Have you ever wondered about the connection between love and the heart? Love is a complex emotion. The heart is the organ in the body that is responsible for blood circulation. The two…
The Memorial Prayer
According to Jewish belief, when people pass away, they move on to sojourn in the “next world,” to hopefully enjoy the spiritual rewards they have earned from their good acts in “this…
The Thirty-Six
How many truly righteous people do you know? People who not only dedicate themselves to living religious lives but who really strive to serve God, and succeed. The true inner…
War In The Torah
The Torah’s protocols of war begin with the following verse: "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots and a nation greater than you..." (Deuteronomy 20).…
The Fruit That Is Not A Fruit
Eating a healthy diet is important. In fact, it is so important that many governments allocate significant budget funds to analyze the best diets for people. The U.S. Department of…
Bereshith 5769-2008
"The Development of Civilization as Recorded in Genesis" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The Torah is not intended to serve as a history lesson or as a chronicle of the development of ancient…
Lech Lecha 5767-2006
"The Souls That Were Made in Haran" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Lech Lecha, the dynamic Abram (his name had not yet been changed to Abraham), enters upon the biblical scene…
Lech Lecha 5761-2000
"Lot, Nephew of Avram: The Promise and the Tragedy" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Lech Lecha, we encounter the fascinating relationship between…
Vayeitzei 5760-1999
"Who is the Real Enemy?" Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, we read of Jacob's flight from Beersheva, to escape his brother Esau's wrath. Jacob runs, as…
Shoftim 5763-2003
"Astrology, Witchcraft and Spiritualism in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's Torah portion, Parashat Shoftim, the Torah describes the vital role of the prophet. Moses…