Pinchas 5776-2016
“Pinchas the Zealot, and King David" by Ephraim Z. Buchwald The opening verses of this week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, contain the conclusion of the dramatic narrative concerning…
Eikev 5776-2016
“Caring for the Weak and the Vulnerable" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Among the important mitzvot found in this week’s parasha, parashat Eikev, the Torah bids the Jew to be G-dlike by…
Re’eh 5776-2016
“Preserving the Sanctity of Sacred Objects and Sacred Ideas" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Very soon after the opening verses of this week’s parasha, parashat Re’eh, the Torah, in…
Shoftim 5776-2016
“The Dangers of Pridefulness" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald One of the fascinating topics that we find in this week’s parasha, parashat Shoftim, is the Torah’s prediction that in the…
Kee Tavo 5776-2016
“The Power of the Word אָמֵן--‘Amen’” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, Moses prepares the Jewish people for the experiences that that they will soon…
Bereshith 5777-2016
“The Decline and Fall of Humankind” by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald With this week’s parasha, parashat Bereshith, we begin, once again, to read the first of the Five Books of Moses--the Book of…
Sukkot II 5777-2016
“Why is Sukkot Celebrated in the Fall rather than in the Spring?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Torah, in Leviticus 23:42-43, states, בַּסֻּכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; כָּל…
Noah 5777-2016
“Why was the World Destroyed by a Flood?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Noah, features the destruction of the world at G-d's hands, by a massive flood that…
Lech Lecha 5777-2016
“Abram’s Dispute with Lot” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Lech Lecha, we read of G-d’s call to Abram (his name has not yet been changed to Abraham) to leave…
Vayeira 5777-2016
“There is But No Fear of G-d in this Place” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeira, Abraham relives the trauma of his wife’s abduction in Egypt when he…