The Great Shabbat

The Shabbat immediately preceding Passover is known as Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Shabbat. It is best known for being the Shabbat on which the rabbi of the community (or another leading…

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Make it a “Great Shabbat”

Celebrate Shabbat Hagadol by learning more about Passover traditions and rituals. On this Shabbat HaGadol, the Haftarah, drawn from the final book of the prophets, Malachi describes that…

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Four Cups of Wine

Like almost all festival meals, the Passover seder begins with Kiddush, the sanctification of the day over a cup of wine. On Passover, however, the first cup of wine is followed by three…

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Tzav 5783-2023

“Making the Menial Hallowed and the Mundane Holy” (updated and revised from Tzav 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, continues the theme of…

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Begin Here

To prepare for Passover and enhance your seder experience, delve into the Haggadah to learn more about our collective Jewish history that permeates the text. Click here to download Jewish…

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Pre-Passover Classes on Zoom

New Pre-Passover Classes on ZoomJoin NJOP for two exciting classes on Zoom to help prepare you for Passover! Forward to a…

Bo 5783-2023

“The Subtle Secrets of the 10 Plagues” (updated and revised from Bo 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Bo, describes the last three of the ten…

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Va’eira 5783-2023

“The Exodus--A ‘Primitive’ Story with Revolutionary Implications” (updated and revised from Va’eira 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Jewish history is often perceived, with great…

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Skeptic Questioning

Tomorrow, January 13th, is National Skeptics Day, a day that encourages people to ask questions. Those who are curious might be inclined to ask whether Judaism has any room for…

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Serach’s Serenade

Upon perusing the list of the generations of Jacob found in Genesis chapter 46, it is likely to conclude that there was a powerful genetic predisposition in Jacob’s family for male…

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