Shemini 5760 – 2000

"Substance Abuse in Judaism" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Shemini, opens with the majestic ceremony marking the consecration of Aaron and his sons as…

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Shemini 5779-2019

"Substance Abuse in Judaism" (Revised and updated from Shemini 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, opens with the historic ceremony…

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Shemini 5781-2021

“Using, Not Abusing, a Sanctified Substance” (updated and revised from Shemini 5763-2003)   by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, opens at a most…

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Tzav 5775-2015

“When Performing a Mitzvah Comes at a Significant Personal Cost” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, for the most part, continues the Torah’s review of the…

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Kee Tisah 5782-2022

“Limitless Leadership” (Updated and revised from Kee Tisah 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Tisah, we read of the fateful sin of the people of…

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Her Son Hur, His Grandson, and His Actions!

On the 15th of Tammuz, we observe the yahrzeit (anniversary of the day of death) of Hur, a relatively unsung hero from Biblical times, who was the first Jew to die al Kiddush Hashem,…

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Naso 5765-2005

"A Lesson from the N’seeim--the Tribal Leaders" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Naso, is almost always read after the festival of Shavuot, except after a…

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The Jewish Reveille

The first day of the Hebrew month of Elul, just two days away, brings with it a few changes to the prayer service, one of which is the blowing of the shofar every morning (except Shabbat…

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The Jewish Reveille

The Hebrew month of Elul which began this past Sunday night and Monday, brings with it a few changes to the prayer service, one of which is the blowing of the shofar every morning (except…

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Ki Tisah

Ki TisahIn the parasha, Parashat Ki Tisah, we read of the infamous episode of the Golden Calf.In preparation for the…