The Buttonwood Jews

On the 17th of May, 1792, 24 businessmen met under a buttonwood (sycamore) tree and made an agreement to deal only with one another and to set a .25% commission rate on all…

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Jewish Treats

Jewish Treats New blog posts each weekday sharing interesting and enjoyable observations about Judaism, called “Juicy Bits of…

Behar-Bechukotai 5780-2020

“Setting a New Standard of Ethical Behavior” (Updated and revised from Parashiot Behar-Bechukotai 5761-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, we once again read two parashiot,…

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Jewish Buckeyes

In 1817, when a pioneering watchmaker, Joseph Jonas, settled in Cincinnati, OH, from his native England, a permanent Jewish presence in Ohio was established. The Cincinnati Jewish…

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Take Me Out To The Ballgame

In 2006, the month of May was officially designated as Jewish American Heritage Month. And what better way to celebrate Jews in America than with a little bit of baseball? Certainly…

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Emor 5780-2020

“Death, and the Kohanim--the Children of Aaron” (updated and revised from Parashat Emor 5762-2002)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   In this week’s parasha, parashat Emor, the…

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Tripping the Vision Impaired

Parashat Kedoshim contains a total of 51 mitzvot. One of those mitzvot pertains to the prohibition of taking advantage of the disadvantaged. “You shall not curse a deaf person and you…

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Yom Ha’atzma’ut – Israel’s Independence Day

On the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, in the year 5708, corresponding to May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was born. On that day, the British Mandate was terminated and David…

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A Math Teacher’s Life

Had Irving (Isaac) Adler not lived during the fervent era of the rise and decline of Communism, his personal story might have been the simple life of a mathematician dedicated to the…

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Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5780-2020

"Who is Truly Religious?” (Updated and revised from Parashiot Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5761-2001)   by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   This week’s parashiot, Acharei Mot and Kedoshim,…

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