Metzorah 5776-2016
“G-d Has Pity on the Property of Israel” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Metzorah, opens with a detailed description of the purification ritual for the…
Matot-Masei 5772-2012
“Words that Hurt, Words that Heal” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Matot, the first of this week’s two parashiot, we are immediately confronted with the exceptional power of…
Kosher Jokes
Practical jokes are only funny when they don’t hurt, harm or embarrass anyone. Make sure your jokes are truly funny and desired. It is essential to choose our words carefully when…
Say a Little Prayer
Never hesitate to pray for those in need, even if it is just uttering an on-the-spot request. Prayer is clearly an essential part of the process of seeking repentance. In order to truly…
Metzorah 5760-2000
"The Ultimate Value and Sanctity of Human Life in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Metzorah, is often combined with last week's parasha, parashat…
“If These Walls Could Talk”
The cryptic "spiritual" dermatological disease of tza'ra'at differs from a medical malady, in that Jewish tradition teaches that the infection is caused by sin, not pathogens.…
Boy or Girl
In Leviticus 12, God commands Moses to tell the Israelites that when a woman bears a son she is considered to be niddah (state of marital separation when a woman has her menstrual cycle)…
If These Walls Could Talk
The cryptic "spiritual" dermatological disease of tza'ra'at differs from a medical malady, in that Jewish tradition teaches that the infection is caused by sin, not pathogens.…