Shemini 5770-2010

"The Show Must Go On" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Shemini, the first day of Nissan, the day about which Aaron had been dreaming, finally arrived.…

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Ruth

RuthShe was a former princess, left widowed with her mother-in-law, destined to abandon her royal past to join the Nation of…

Bamidbar 5765-2005

"Lessons from Traveling in the Wilderness" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Bamidbar, the people of Israel are counted, the structure of the tribal…

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Bamidbar 5761-2001

"Continuity Through Family Structure" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Bamidmar, G-d instructs Moshe to count the Jewish people. Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki…

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Shelach 5762-2002

"What's in a Name?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's Torah portion, parashat Shelach, the Torah tells of the twelve men who were sent to scout the land of Canaan, and…

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Vayakhel-Pekudei 5777-2017

"Bezalel--Master Craftsman, Master Teacher”   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Vayakhel, the first of this week’s two parashiot, Vayakhel-Pekudei, Moses designates Bezalel…

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Bamidbar 5780-2020

"Jewish Continuity through Family Structure” (Updated and revised from Bamidbar 5761-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bamidbar, G-d instructs Moses to…

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A Maccabee’s Who’s Who

Mattityahu (Mattathias): A High Priest descended from the Hasmonean line, Mattityahu lived in Modi’in with his five sons. Mattityahu started the rebellion against the Syrian-Greeks…

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The Western Light

Tens of thousands of tourists stream annually to countries such as Canada, Iceland, Norway and even the U.S. state of Alaska, to behold the exquisite Northern Lights, aurora borealis,…

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Ordaining with Both Hands

Semicha, which connotes rabbinic ordination, as understood today, consists of passing proficiency exams and receiving permission from one’s teachers to rule on questions of Jewish law.…

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