Terumah 5773-2013
"Form Over Content, or Content Over Form?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, is the first in a series of five parashiot that deal with the design,…
Tzav 5774-2014
“The Perpetual Fire” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Last week’s parasha, parashat Vayikra, introduced the five main sacrificial offerings: the Ohlah עֹלָה: the burnt-offering, the Mincha…
Terumah 5775-2015
“The Sanctity of the Synagogue” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, is the first of a series of parashiot that deal with the creation, erecting and…
Pekudei,Genesis,Weekly Message,Vayakhel
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5777-2017
"Bezalel--Master Craftsman, Master Teacher” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Vayakhel, the first of this week’s two parashiot, Vayakhel-Pekudei, Moses designates Bezalel…
Jewish Jeaneology
February 26, celebrated as “Levi Strauss Day,” is the day, in 1829, that marked the birth of the blue-jeans icon. Born in Bavaria, Levi Strauss immigrated, along with his mother and two…
The Rise of Phoenix
The settlement of the Arizona territory, followed the California Gold Rush of 1848-1850. When gold was found in Arizona, many people moved there from 1862 to 1864, including many Jewish…
The Poles of the Ark
The second half of the book of Exodus commences with parashat Terumah. Nachmanides suggests that while the first half of the Book describes the physical redemption of the Children of…
An Imperfect Measure
Building requires many measurements, and the numerous building projects discussed and described in the Torah include a great deal of widths and breadths and heights. From Noah’s Ark to…
The Cochin Jews of India
The Malabar Jews of Cochin*, India, claim to have existed as a community since the times of King Solomon’s trade missions for ivory and silver. It is most likely, however, that their…
The First Jew in the Colonies
When does American Jewish history begin? Some would say that it begins in 1492, when Columbus set sail on his historic voyage accompanied by at least one known Jewish crew member (Luis de…