Vayigash 5772-2011
"Joseph and Judah: A Confrontation for Posterity" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, we read of the dramatic and powerful confrontation between Judah and Joseph. (For an…
Mikeitz 5776-2015
“Joseph’s Bold Advice to Pharaoh-–Revisited” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Joseph, the Hebrew slave boy, is hurried from the dungeon to stand…
Vayeishev 5777-2016
“The Voice Within Us” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeishev, we read of the attempted seduction of Joseph by Potiphar’s wife. Scripture, in Genesis…
Vayigash 5777-2017
“No ‘Man’ was with Joseph” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayigash, the extraordinary story of Joseph and his brothers reaches its dramatic conclusion as…
Passover 5777-2017
“לֶחֶם עֹנִי --Lechem Oni: The Bread of Affliction by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Two primary scriptural verses provide reasons for eating matzah, unleavened…
Weekly Message,Behar,Bechukotai
Behar-Bechukotai 5777-2017
“If Your Brother Becomes Impoverished” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Behar, the first of this week’s two parashiot, Behar-Bechukotai, we encounter the mitzvah requiring Jews to…
Thou Shalt Not Steal A Person
The Eighth Commandment, lo tignohv, do not steal, appears to be an obvious law. Every civil code prohibits theft. However, in both syntax and placement, the Eighth Commandment appears to…
Record the Memories
If there are Holocaust survivors in your family or in your community, make sure to speak with them and record their stories. While it is impossible to compare the trials and tribulations…
Lech Lecha 5762-2001
"Understanding Ishmael" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Lech Lecha, we encounter the birth of Abrams's oldest son, Ishmael. The bible, in Genesis 15, tells…
Eikev 5761-2001
"The Intermarriage Conundrum" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The opening verses of this week's parasha, parashat Eikev, conclude the theme that was the focus of the final part of last…