Pinchas 5776-2016
“Pinchas the Zealot, and King David" by Ephraim Z. Buchwald The opening verses of this week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, contain the conclusion of the dramatic narrative concerning…
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…
Shelach 5777-2017
“The Slave Mentality” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shelach, we read of G-d’s shattering decree that the generation of Israelites who came out of Egypt…
Kee Teitzei 5777-2017
“Lessons from the Wayward Son” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Kee Teitzei, we learn of the law of the “Ben soh’rayr oo’moh’reh,” בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה ,…
Vayeishev 5778-2017
Vayeishev 5778-2017 “The Jealousy Between Brothers” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Vayeishev we read of the powerful forces of jealousy and enmity that rip apart…
Tzav–Passover 1 5778-2018
“Making Holiness Contagious” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, we are reintroduced to the laws of the Mincha, מִנְחָה , the meal offering, that were…
Weekly Message,Va'etchanan,Tisha b'Av
Va’etchanan-Tisha B’Av 5768-2008
"A Hopeful Message for Jewish Future" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Va'etchanan, we find the well-known citation from Deuteronomy 4:25-40, "Kee to'leed…
Vayigash 5771-2010
“When a Jew Goes Down to Egypt” Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayigash, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. When Jacob learns that his beloved son is still…
Balak 5771-2011
"Taking the Law Into One’s Own Hand" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald At the conclusion of this week’s parasha, parashat Balak, we learn that after Bilaam’s failed attempts to curse the…
Can You Be The Tenth?
That the Hebrew word "minyan" derives from the infinitive "lim'not," to count or number, is not at all surprising. A minyan is a quorum of 10, the smallest number necessary to create a…