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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…