v’Zot Habracha-Simchat Torah 5776-2015
“The Confluence of v’Zot Habracha and the Holiday” (originally posted in 5770-2009) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The festival of Simchat Torah, the rejoicing with the Law, is one of two…
Vayikra 5768-2008
"Infallibility in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayikra, we are told of the many types of offerings that were brought in the ancient Tabernacle. In…
Vayishlach 5778-2017
“The Tragic Death of Mother Rachel” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayishlach, we learn of the untimely and tragic death of Mother Rachel as she was…
Vayishlach 5780-2019
“The Massacre of Shechem, Can it be Justified?” (Updated and revised from Vayishlach 5760-1999) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As this week’s parasha, parashat Vayishlach, commences,…
Eikev-Tu b’Av 5766-2006
"The Fifteenth of Av" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald For most of the past three weeks, beginning with the fast of the 17th of Tammuz and concluding with the fast of Tisha b'Av, the Jewish…
Re’eh 5783-2023
"The Sanctity of Land and its Implications” (updated and revised from Re’eh 5765-2005) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Among the topics discussed in this week’s parasha, parashat…
Shemini,Yom Hashoah,Weekly Message
Shemini-Yom Hashoah 5767-2007
"Never Again!-Again!" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Two great events have shaped Jewish life in the last 65 years: the Holocaust and the rise of the State of Israel. Ironically, sixty…
Emor 5770-2010
"Striving For Perfection" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Much of parashat Emor speaks of holiness, faultlessness, striving for perfection and the proper observance of the holy days. In…
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…
Matot 5768-2008
"Striving for Refined Speech" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Matot, we learn of the laws that govern vows and oaths, known in Hebrew as nedarim and…