Re’eh 5771-2011
"Listening to the Message" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Re’eh, Moses continues his exhortation to the Jewish people, imploring them to remain faithful to…
Kee Tavo 5771-2011
"The Challenge of Bountifulness" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tavo, incorporates the second of the Torah’s two tochachot, G-d’s admonitions to His…
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…
Mishpatim 5772-2012
"Capital Punishment: Revenge or Restitution?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With fifty-three commandments--thirty negative and twenty-three positive, parashat Mishpatim ranks fourth among…
Eikev 5772-2012
"Loving the Stranger" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Eikev, the Torah boldly pronounces the positive mitzvah of loving the stranger. In Deuteronomy 10:19,…
Mishpatim 5773-2013
"Judaism’s Take on ‘Majority Rules’" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Mishpatim is a treasure-trove of Jewish law that serves as the basis for much of Jewish…
Tazria,Weekly Message,Metzorah
Tazria-Metzorah 5773-2013
"Ritual Impurity and Tzaraat: A Contemporary Understanding" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s double parashiot, Tazria and Metzorah, are among the most complex Torah portions for…
Naso 5773-2013
"Playing the Subordinate Role: A Lesson from the Levites" by Rabbi Ephaim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Naso, continues the description of the role of the Levites, whose…
Korach 5773-2013
"The Rebellion Against the Lonely Leader" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Korach, we read of the infamous rebellion of Korach, who together with Dathan and…
Eikev 5773-2013
"Eating Bread Without Poverty" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Eikev, Moses continues to encourage the nation of Israel to trust in the Al-mighty. This trust…