Bamidbar 5765-2005
"Lessons from Traveling in the Wilderness" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Bamidbar, the people of Israel are counted, the structure of the tribal…
B’ha’alot’cha 5769-2009
"Would a Human Author Have Written this?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Beha'alotecha, contains a host of diverse themes. Topics include: the Menorah,…
Haazinu/Sukkot 5777-2016
“Sukkot: Enveloping Israel in G-d’s Loving-kindness” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The majestic song/poem of parashat Haazinu opens with a lyrical summary of Jewish history. Speaking in…
Marvelous Manna
“Foodies” everywhere might appreciate the fact that some people see the exceptionally wide variety of textures and flavors that are found in food as proof of God’s desire for humankind to…
Chayei Sarah 5776-2015
"The Legacy of Ishmael" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Chayei Sarah, opens with the death and burial of the matriarch, Sarah, at age 127, and closes with the…
Vayeira 5777-2016
“There is But No Fear of G-d in this Place” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeira, Abraham relives the trauma of his wife’s abduction in Egypt when he…
Lech Lecha 5767-2006
"The Souls That Were Made in Haran" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Lech Lecha, the dynamic Abram (his name had not yet been changed to Abraham), enters upon the biblical scene…
Devarim 5763-2003
"The Gentle Reproof" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, we begin reading the fifth book of the Torah, known as Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew. The book of Devarim is also called…
Terumah 5763-2003
"The Mishkan and the Sanctity of the Jewish Home" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, we begin a series of five weekly Torah portions that deal with the building of the…
Shelach 5764-2004
"Where Did the Spies Go Wrong?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Shelach, G-d tells Moses (Numbers 13:2): "Sh'lach l'chah ah'nah'shim, v'yah'too'roo et Eretz…