Shemini,Weekly Message

Shemini 5760 – 2000

"Substance Abuse in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Shemini, opens with the majestic ceremony marking the consecration of Aaron and his sons as…

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Pekudei,Weekly Message

Pekudei 5760-2000

"Honesty and Integrity in Public Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, Parashat Pekudei, the Torah portion begins with an accounting of the amounts of gold,…

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Purim,Weekly Message,Terumah

Terumah-Purim 5760-2000

"The Mishkan: Underscoring the Centrality of the Home in Jewish Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, Parashat Terumah, we begin a series of four parashiot…

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Vayechi,Weekly Message

Vayechi 5760-1999

"How Important is Timing?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Vayechi, is an exalted collection of poetry. In this parasha, Jacob blesses his children, but it is…

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Mikeitz,Weekly Message

Mikeitz 5760-1999

"Who is Osenath the wife of Joseph?" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream and is elevated to be mishne la'melech,…

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Noah,Weekly Message

Noah 5760-1999

"Does the Torah ever distort the truth?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald There is a fascinating and enlightening story brought down in Genesis 11, of this week's parasha, Noah. It is…

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Sukkot,Weekly Message

Sukkot 5785-2024

“Sukkot - The Festival of Joy” (updated and revised from Sukkot I 5767-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The festival of Sukkot is regarded as the most joyous of all the Jewish holidays.…

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Jewish Treats

Holiday Greetings

The standard pre-Rosh Hashana greeting of “K’Tiva Va’Chatima Tova,” May you be written and sealed for good, is deduced from a Talmudic discussion concerning the three heavenly books that…

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Jewish Treats

Tashlich

The popular Rosh Hashana tashlich ritual is a tradition that is dear to all the many diverse Jewish communities. Tashlich literally translates as, “You will throw.” But what, exactly, is…

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Jewish Treats

Annulment of Vows

“I swear that this time I will lose weight.” “I am going to pray every day…” We make promises all the time. We swear that we are going to do something, and then hope that we will be in a…

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