Chukat 5764-2004
"A Tribute to Miriam, Our Sister" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Numbers 20:1 informs us of the death of Miriam. It reads as follows: "Va'yah'voh'ooh v'nay Yisrael, kol hah'ay'dah, mid'bar…
Chukat 5767-2007
"The Excesses of Rationality" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald One of the most common issues raised when analyzing a Torah text is the question of juxtaposition: why a particular parasha…
Chukat 5768-2008
"The Death of Aaron" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Chukat, we learn of the death of Aaron, the High Priest of Israel. Numbers 20:20-29 relates that the…
Balak 5765-2005
"Bilaam, Prophet to the Nations" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Jews and their philosophers have long been troubled by the concept of "Chosenness." So uncomfortable were the people and…
Pinchas 5770-2010
"The Colorful Biography of Pinchas" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald At the end of last week's parasha, we learned that a prominent couple performed a lewd act in public in order to directly…
Sukkot 5764-2003
"The Seven Protective Divine Clouds" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The festival of Sukkot acknowledges our profound gratitude to the A-lmighty who watched over our ancestors after the exodus…
Passover 5760-2000
"The Passover Seder–Focus on the Children" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald As is the practice on all Shabbatot that coincide with Jewish holidays, the Torah portion for this coming Shabbat is…
Shemot 5771-2010
“Pharaoh’s Three Counselors” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shemot, the intense suffering of the Israelites in Egypt begins. The rabbis of the Midrash are…
Shelach 5771-2011
"Challah–-All Possessions Are From the L-rd" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The primary narrative of this week’s parasha, parashat Shelach, concerns the episode of the scouts (spies) who…
Yitro 5772-2012
"Who is the Real Jethro?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Jethro, a man of great stature and distinction, is first encountered in the Bible in Exodus 2:16. The Torah describes Jethro as…