Shemini 5772-2012
"The Efficacy of the Oral Code" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, we read of the first full sacrificial service that was offered in the recently…
Bereshith 5773-2012
“What is Heaven?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The opening parasha of the book of Genesis, parashat Bereshith, contains the dramatic biblical account of the physical creation of the…
Devarim 5773-2013
"The Price of Disunity" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week’s parasha, parashat Devarim, the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy, begins. Parashat Devarim is always read on…
Yom Kippur 5775-2014
“The High Priest’s Dilemma–What to Wear on Yom Kippur?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Torah reading from Leviticus 16:1-34 that is read on Yom Kippur morning in synagogues throughout…
Bereshith 5775-2014
“The Sad Destiny of the Firstborn Children” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald A prominent feature of the book of Genesis is the struggle for family leadership between the firstborn and the…
Haazinu-Sukkot 5776-2015
“The Sukkah In The Sky” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Haazinu, the penultimate parasha in the book of Deuteronomy, signals the conclusion of Moses’ departing…
Passover II 5776-2016
“The Final Days of Passover: Love and Hope" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald According to tradition, on the seventh day of Passover the sea split and the ancient Israelites marched…
Naso 5776-2016
“Reflections on the Meaning of Peace" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Naso, includes the well-known “Priestly Blessings,” the brief but beautiful, threefold…
Vayeishev 5777-2016
“The Voice Within Us” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeishev, we read of the attempted seduction of Joseph by Potiphar’s wife. Scripture, in Genesis…
Shemot 5777-2017
"From Whence Shall Come My Salvation?” by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemot, is the opening portion of the book of Exodus, also known as Sefer Shemot, the second…