Jewish Treats

Paying For Gold

The most infamous sin of the Jewish people was the sin of the Golden Calf: When God presented the People of Israel with the Ten Commandments, the people were overwhelmed at hearing the…

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Vayikra,Weekly Message

Vayikra 5782-2022

“Insights for the Contemporary Soul from Ancient ‘Primitive’ Rituals” (Updated and revised from Vayikra 5764-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week’s parasha, parashat Vayikra,…

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Jewish Treats

A Look at Honesty

In honor of Honesty Day (created by M. Hirsh Goldberg in the 1990s), which is tomorrow, Jewish Treats presents some fascinating insights into the Jewish view on the importance of……

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Jewish Treats

Smashing the Tablets

The sages declare that five tragedies occurred on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, (Sunday, July 17th)* which is why the day is observed as a fast day. Days of what we might now call “bad…

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Weekly Message,Bechukotai

Bechukotai 5782-2022

“Ma’aser Shay’nee--The Second Tithe” (updated and revised from Bechukotai 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Toward the very end of this week’s parasha, parashat Bechukotai, we…

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Jewish Treats

The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz

Everyone knows about fasting on Yom Kippur. There are, however, several other fast days on the Jewish calendar that are not nearly as well known. One of the prominent fasts is the Fast of…

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Jewish Treats

Symbolic Foods

Since Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment, it is customary to eat simanim*, foods with symbolic meanings that invoke God’s blessing. We also recite a short prayer before eating them.…

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Pinchas,Weekly Message

Pinchas 5782-2022

“Can a Perfect G-d Sin?” (Updated and revised from Pinchas 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Pinchas, is full of fascinating narratives. The parasha…

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Weekly Message,Matot,Masei

Matot-Masei 5782-2022

“The Massacre of the Midianites: Does Judaism Countenance Genocide?” (Updated and revised from Matot-Masei 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald At the conclusion of parashat Balak,…

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Eikev,Weekly Message

Eikev 5782-2022

“Is There Truth to the Notion of Spiritual Accountability?” (updated and revised from Eikev 5763-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Eikev, contains…

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