Jewish Treats

Chanukah Yum

While Jewish holidays are known for their food (except Yom Kippur, of course), most of them are not known for being particularly healthy. Chanukah is no exception. Forget matzah or…

Read More

Jewish Treats

Scapegoat

The Jewish people have often been cast as the proverbial “scapegoat.” When millions died during the Black Plague, the Jews were accused of poisoning the wells. Blood libels accusing Jews…

Read More

Weekly Message,Balak

Balak 5761-2001

"Words of Eternal Truth from the Evil Prophet Bilaam" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Balak, we encounter Balak, the King of Moab, soliciting the…

Read More

Sources Commentators

Abarbanel (1437-1508, Spanish statesman, philosopher and commentator) Israel Abrahams (1858-1925) Achad Ha’Am (Asher Zvi Hirsh Ginsberg, 1856-1927) AJOP (Association for Jewish Outreach…

Weekly Message,Chayei Sarah

Chayei Sarah 5781-2020

“The Personality of Isaac: The Passive Patriarch” (updated and revised from Chayei Sarah 5761–2000) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Chayei Sarah, we learn…

Read More

Tzav,Weekly Message

Tzav 5782-2022

“What We Learn from the Jewish ‘Caste System’” (Updated and revised from Tzav 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Tzav, continues the Torah’s…

Read More

Shemini,Weekly Message

Shemini 5784-2024

“Those Remarkable Dietary Laws” (updated and revised from Shemini 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, contains an extensive excursion into the…

Read More

Chayei Sarah,Weekly Message

Chayei Sara 5761-2000

"The Personality of Isaac: the Passive Patriarch" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Chayei Sarah, we learn of the death of Abraham's wife, Sarah, our…

Read More

Devarim,Weekly Message

Devarim 5765-2005

"The Book of Deuteronomy–Mishneh Torah and the Purpose of Repetition" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Devarim, marks the commencement of the fifth book of the…

Read More

Judaism,Chanukah,Chanukah ResourcesChanukah,Resources,Literacy,Judaism

What to do on Chanukah

What to do on ChanukahChanukah is unique amongst the holidays in that it has only a single mitzvah - publicizing the miracle…