Behar 5760-2000

"Wronging One Another: The Torah's Unique Viewpoint" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, Parashat Behar, we twice encounter the mitzvah of o'na'ah – the prohibition…

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Mishpatim 5780-2020

“The ‘Sophisticated’ and ‘Unsophisticated’ Criminal” (updated and revised from Mishpatim 5761-2001)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Mishpatim, is a…

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Are There Limitations to Window Shopping?

As today is known as “Black Friday,” the biggest shopping day of the year, Jewish Treats will discuss a halachic (Jewish legal) issue regarding shopping. Window shopping is an accepted…

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Who Drinks the Water?

It’s a classic ethical dilemma: Two people are lost in the desert with only one water bottle. There is not enough water for both people to reach civilization. Who gets the water, or do…

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Indirect Damages

“An eye for an eye” (Exodus 21:24) is one of the most commonly quoted phrases from the Hebrew Bible. This phrase, of course, is part of Jewish civil law and serves as the original…

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Fences

The Bible commands the owner of a home with a flat roof to put up a ma’akeh - a fence - around the roof, so that blood will not be on the owner’s hands (Deuteronomy…

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Who Drinks The Water?

It’s a classic ethical dilemma: Two people are lost in the desert with only one water bottle. There is not enough water for both people to reach civilization. Who gets the water, or do…

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Kee Teitzei 5781-2021

“Transforming an Enemy into a Friend” (updated and revised from Kee Teitzei 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald We are now well into the month of אֱלוּל, Elul, the month that leads…

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Indirect Damages

“An eye for an eye” as is set forth in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, (Exodus 21:24) is one of the most commonly quoted phrases from the Hebrew Bible. This phrase, of course, is…

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Mishpatim 5783-2023

“The Al-mighty’s Concern for the Dignity of the Human Being” (updated and revised from Mishpatim 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously noted, parashat Mishpatim…

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