Vayeishev 5768-2007

"The Seduction of Joseph" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeishev, Joseph is brought down to Egypt and sold by the Ishmaelites to Potiphar, one of…

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Tzav 5770-2010

"The Command" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Tzav, the Al-mighty says to Moses (Leviticus 6:2): "Tzav et Aharon v'et bah'nahv lay'mor: Zoht toh'raht…

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The Story of the Exodus

The Story of the Exodus Table of Contents Going Down to Egypt Slavery Redemption From Slavery What exactly were the ten…

Tetzaveh 5769-2009

"The Urim and Tumim--The Mysterious Priestly Accessory" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, is concerned primarily with the vestments of the priests.…

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Tetzaveh-Purim 5761-2001

"The True Story of Purim" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, speaks of the fashioning of the clothes worn by the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest.…

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Naso 5768-2008

"Carrying the Ark" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Naso, we learn that the completed Tabernacle was sanctified and inaugurated for its first use. In order to…

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Vayeitzei 5773-2012

"The Complex Relationship Between Jacob, Rachel and Leah" In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, Jacob, who has fled from his father’s home in BeerSheba where Esau seeks to kill him,…

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Duties of the Heart

The concept of “being spiritual” is often assumed to be a fairly recent one, resulting, perhaps, from the enlightenment’s deconstruction of organized religion.  The idea of…

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Vayikra 5768-2008

"Infallibility in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayikra, we are told of the many types of offerings that were brought in the ancient Tabernacle. In…

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Shemot 5766-2006

"And G-d Built Them Houses" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Shemot, we read of Pharaoh's demonic plot to weaken and ultimately destroy the Jewish…

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