Pekudei,Vayakhel,Weekly Message
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5762-2002
"The Original Jewish Renewal Movement" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald On this coming Shabbat we will read two parashiot, Vayakhel and Pekudei, which conclude the book of Exodus. These…
These Lights We Kindle
While the mitzvah of lighting the menorah is an outward-focused mitzvah - the menorah is lit in a window or doorway - it is also an opportunity for personal reflection on the deeper…
Shelach 5766-2006
"Who was Caleb?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Shelach is probably the saddest parasha in the Torah. It is in this weekly portion that the Israelite men of the Exodus generation…
Chukat 5764-2004
"A Tribute to Miriam, Our Sister" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Numbers 20:1 informs us of the death of Miriam. It reads as follows: "Va'yah'voh'ooh v'nay Yisrael, kol hah'ay'dah, mid'bar…
Pinchas 5765-2005
"Whatever Became of the Sons of Korach?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Pinchas, opens with the conclusion of the well-known act of zealotry perpetrated by…
Pinchas 5766-2006
"The 'Zealotry' of Pinchas" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Pinchas, opens with the conclusion of the story that began in last week's parasha of a tribal leader…
Rosh Hashana 5763-2002
"A Message for the High Holy Days: 'Export, Export!'" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Beginning this Friday evening, September 6th, and continuing through Saturday and Sunday, September 7th and…
Yom Kippur 5760-1999
"How does G-d Judge?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald How does one prepare for Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment, when our deeds of the past year, and especially the past week, are evaluated…
Sukkot 5765-2004
"Worshiping G-d Wholeheartedly" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald There is a wonderful Sukkot story told about the Gaon of Vilna, Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, 1720-1797, who was the foremost…
Vayeitzei 5775-2014
“Twenty Years in the House of Laban” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, Jacob follows his parents’ advice to leave home in order to escape the wrath…