Bereshith 5764-2003

"The Book of Humankind" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald More than 2000 years ago, the rabbis of the Babylonian Jewish community divided the Torah into 54 portions, and began the practice of…

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Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5762-2002

"The Promise of Total Return" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parashiot, Nitzavim and Vayeilech, are among the final parashiot of the book of Deuteronomy and contain the…

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Nitzavim 5761-2001

"Striving to Reach Heaven During the Days of Awe" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This past Saturday night, September 8, or early Sunday morning to be more exact, Ashkenazic Jews the world…

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Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5784-2024

“Choosing Life” (updated and revised from Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald There’s something very distinctive about the arrival of the Jewish New Year. Whenever…

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Kee Teitzei 5784-2024

“The Revolution that Started with a Fence” (updated from Kee Teitzei 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The extraordinary number of themes that are found in Parashat Kee Teitzei make…

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Eikev 5784-2024

“Understanding Birkat Hamazon, the Grace After Meals” (updated and revised from Eikev 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Eikev, we are told of the…

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Va’etchanan 5784-2024

“The Jewish Attitude Toward Intermarriage” (updated and revised from Va’etchanan 5765-2005)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald  This week’s parasha, parashat  Va’etchanan, is chock-full…

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Shabbat Chazon

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of the Vision (prophecy), named after the opening word of the Book of Isaiah, the first 27 verses of which are read as the haftarah on…

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The Tribe of Asher

As the forefathers of the tribes of Israel, the lives and personalities of each of the twelve sons of Jacob impacted on the history and behavior of the tribe members who descended from…

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The Messiah – A Jewish Concept

Because the concept of a Messiah* (Moshiach in Hebrew) is not overtly mentioned in the five books of the Torah, it is often overlooked as one of the tenets of the Jewish faith. But the…

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