The Passover Story in Brief

On Passover, we commemorate the exodus from Egyptian slavery. The following is a brief summary: Jacob’s family came to Egypt to escape a famine in Canaan. Joseph, Jacob’s son who had…

Read More

Passover Story in Brief

On Passover, we commemorate the exodus from Egyptian slavery. The following is a brief summary: Jacob’s family came to Egypt to escape a famine in Canaan. Joseph, Jacob’s son and the…

Read More

B’shalach 5774-2014

“Analysis of the ‘Shira,’ the Song of Moses Crossing the Sea” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’shalach, as they cross to freedom through the parted waters…

Read More

B’shalach 5780-2020

“Where is Nachshon the Son of Aminadov When We Need Him?” (Updated and revised from B’shalach 5761-2001)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat B’shalach,…

Read More

B’shalach 5761-2001

"Where is Nachshon, the Son of Aminadav, When We Need Him?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat B'shalach, describes G-d's miraculous salvation of the Jewish…

Read More

Bechukotai 5765-2005

"Achieving Peace and Security for the Jewish People" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Bechukotai, we encounter the first of the two tochachot--portions of…

Read More

Bo 5771-2011

"‘Is This What You Call Borrowing?’--Revisited" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In a previous analysis of parashat Bo (5768-2008), we presented a number of responses to the question of how…

Read More

Vayigash 5774-2013

“The Dreams and the Divine Covenant” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayigash, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. After twenty-two years of separation,…

Read More

Mikeitz/Chanukah 5777-2016

“Pharaoh Was Agitated” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Pharaoh dreams two well-known dreams, the dream of seven fat cows that emerge from the Nile…

Read More

The Birth and Death of Moses

One of the 13 principles of faith according to Maimonides is believing that Moses was the greatest of all the Jewish prophets. He was so great, that God feared he would be…

Read More