Haazinu 5783-2022

“The Final Song” (updated and revised from Haazinu 1999-5759) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Haazinu, features the final song which Moses sings before his…

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Swiss Jews

A Jewish presence in Switzerland can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Until the 19th century, Jews in Switzerland were restricted in both residence and employment. While there were…

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Devarim 5782-2022

“The Gentle Reproof” (updated and revised from Devarim 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, congregations the world over finally align their Torah readings with Israel, and…

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Tisha b’Av

This Saturday night at sunset, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar begins. Known as the Fast of the 9th of Av (Tisha b’Av), it’s observance this year is postponed one day because it is…

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For Religious Education

Recognize the important work of AMIT, which supports and operates over 100 schools and programs as part of Israel’s only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education.…

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Rashi and The Tosafot Commentaries

One of the most fascinating aspects of Jewish study are the layer-upon-layer of enlightening and edifying commentaries that can be found when studying texts of the Torah or the Talmud. Of…

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The Month of Av

The months of the Jewish year are called in the Torah by number only (the first month, second month, etc.). Over time, during the exile, the months assumed the names given to them by host…

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The Feast of Weeks

Shavuot, which we begin celebrating this Saturday night, June 4, is the only holiday listed in the Torah without the date on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah states that this…

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The Battle of Kibbutz Yad Mordechai

At the time of the Declaration of the State of Israel (May 14, 1948), Kibbutz Yad Mordechai was a five-year-old settlement, ten kilometers south of Ashkelon, just north of the Gaza…

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A Sephardi Gaon

Because of the dedication of Rabbi Ezra Attiya (1885-1969), known as a Gaon, a great Torah scholar, hundreds of Sephardic Jews chose to extend their education, scores decided to dedicate…

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