Jews and War
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is one of the world’s top fighting forces. This is not so surprising when one recalls that the Bible is filled with references to military might. Even…
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).…
Matot-Masei 5763-2003
"The Massacre of the Midianites: Does Judaism Countenance Genocide?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald We have learned in Parashat Balak that Balaam finally realized that the Jews could not…
Shoftim 5762-2002
"The Torah - the First Environmentalist Treatise" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's Torah portion, parashat Shoftim, we find many interesting and challenging ideas. It is…
Shoftim 5760-2000
"War, the Jewish Community and Jewish Family Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Shoftim, we learn in great detail about the extensive preparations…
Weekly Message,Haazinu,Rosh Hashana
Rosh Hashana/Haazinu 5785-2024
“Jewish Normal, Is Not Very Normal” (updated and revised from Haazinu-Rosh Hashana 5774-2013) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Haazinu, Moses, speaking to the…
Using A Live Virus
Mention the polio vaccine and most people think of Jonas Salk. The fact is, however, that the polio vaccine used today is actually based on the work of another Jewish physician, Albert…
Minsk, Pinsk and Dvinsk
Dvinsk, also known as Daugavpils or Duenaburg, is Latvia’s second largest city, situated 140 miles southeast of Riga, Latvia’s capital. Dvinsk became a Jewish center in the Baltics…
No Holiday as Joyous
Tu b’Av (The Fifteenth of Av), which is today, is no longer the well-known holiday on the Jewish calendar that it was in ancient times. In fact, the Talmud states that: “There were no…
An Extraordinary Run
With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in full swing, NJOP shares the story of a Jewish British Olympian. When Harold Maurice Abrahams was born on December 15, 1899, movies were short,…