Vayigash 5762-2001
"The Virtues of Assimilation" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Vayigash, the dramatic story of Joseph and his brothers comes to a rousing conclusion.…
Va’etchanan 5764-2004
"The Dialectic of Body and Soul" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Va'etchanan, we encounter several weighty and significant texts. Among the most prominent…
B’ha’alot’cha 5768-2008
"The Gift of Spiritual Potential" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In response to Moses' complaint that he cannot bear the burden of the people of Israel alone, G-d instructs Moses to select…
Vayeira 5776-2015
“The Trials of Abraham” by Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Vayeira, includes at least three of the ten trials that Abraham faced during his life. Pirkei Avot, Ethics of…
Noah 5782-2021
“The ‘Myth’ of the Great Flood” (updated and revised from Noah 5762-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Noah, the story of the flood, is a truly-intriguing Torah portion. Secular…
Noah 5783-2022
“The Story of Noah--Fact or Fantasy?” (updated and revised from Noah 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week’s Torah portion, parashat Noah, that features the famous…
Va’etchanan 5783-2023
"The Dialectic of Body and Soul" (updated and revised from Va’etchanan 5764-2004) In this week’s parasha, parashat Va’etchanan, we encounter several well-known and significant texts.…
Chanukah,Weekly Message,Mikeitz
Mikeitz-Chanukah 5764-2003
"Chanukah--The Struggle of Joseph and Judah" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald It is not at all a coincidence that parashat Mikeitz coincides with the festival of Chanukah. After all, Joseph's…
Va’eira 5760-2000
"G-d Hardens Pharaoh's Heart: Reconciling Omniscience and Free Will" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Va'eira, we encounter one of the fundamental…
Tazria,Weekly Message,Metzorah
Tazria-Metzorah 5769-2009
"And He Shall be Brought to the Priest" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In each of this week's double parashiot, Tazria and Metzora, we encounter similar verses asserting that a person…