Va’eira 5774-2013
“Moses, the Reluctant Prophet” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Tradition maintains that the 53 Hebrew prophets and prophetesses were generally a reluctant group of Divine servants, who were…
Forever Fashions
When the Children of Israel left Egypt, they did not expect to be in the wilderness for 40 years. (Indeed, 38 years were added to their journey because the generation that left Egypt…
Eikev 5773-2013
"Eating Bread Without Poverty" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Eikev, Moses continues to encourage the nation of Israel to trust in the Al-mighty. This trust…
Weekly Message,Genesis,Devarim
Devarim 5772-2012
"The Al-mighty’s Relationship with the Nations of the World" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously noted on several occasions (Devarim 5765-2005), the book of Devarim…
Bechukotai 5771-2011
"Peace--The Greatest of All Blessings" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Bechukotai, is one of two parashiot that include the Tochachah, G-d’s reproof of the Jewish…
Forget The Top Forties
Thousands of years ago, the sages created a top ten song list of the important songs recited in the Tanach (Bible). Straight from the Midrashic collection of the Mechilta of Rabbi Ishmael…
Devarim 5770-2010
"On That Day the Lord Shall Be One and His Name One" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The book of Deuteronomy, known in Hebrew as Devarim, opens with the people now standing at the border of…
v’Zot Habracha-Simchat Torah 5770-2009
"The Confluence of v'Zot Habracha and the Holiday" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The festival of Simchat Torah, the rejoicing with the Law, is one of two major festivals during which we…
The Words Are The Things
In Hebrew, the Book of Deuteronomy is known as Sefer D’varim. Its name is derived from the fact that the Hebrew word d’varim is the first noun that appears in the book, which begins with…
Tisha b'Av,Weekly Message,Devarim
Devarim-Tisha B’Av 5764-2004
"Building a 'New' Sanctuary" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Devarim, is always read on the week that precedes the Fast of the Ninth of Av (Tisha b'Av), which…