A Trap of Wealth
If I were a rich man…The most important men in town will come to fawn on me…When you’re rich they think you really know… The now classic words from the Broadway show “Fiddler on the Roof”…
Making it Transfusable
In 1901, Karl Landsteiner (June 14, 1868–June 26, 1943) who was born Jewish but later converted out, discovered that people have different types of blood, and by 1909 he was able to begin…
Out To Sea
In honor of International Seafarers Day, Jewish Treats takes a brief look at seafaring in the biblical canon. The patriarchs and matriarchs were total “landlubbers.” In fact, the closest…
Shelach 5784-2024
“Bread Alone” (updated and revised from Shelach 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As the name of the parasha indicates, שְׁלַח לְךָ--send for yourself, this week’s parasha focuses…
B’ha’a’lot’cha 5784-2024
“The Message of the Trumpets" (updated and revised from B'ha'a'lot'cha 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat B’ha’a’lot’cha, the Torah, in Numbers…
Give Them a Choice
There is an oft-cited Midrash (Sifrei, Dvarim 343) describing how God offered the Torah to the other nations of the world before He gave it to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. According…
The Book of Ruth
Ruth was the Moabite wife of Machlon, one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi, a wealthy Hebrew couple who had fled Bethlehem during a bitter famine. Elimelech’s family had settled in…
Preparing for the Torah
Shortly after the Israelites encamped at the base of Mount Sinai, they agreed to accept the Torah and do all that God had commanded. And so, God declared that He would bring Himself, in…
Shavuot Resources,Jewish Treats,Shavuot
Feast of Weeks
Shavuot, which we begin celebrating next Tuesday night (June 11th), is the only holiday listed in the Torah without the date on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah states that…
Bamidbar 5784-2024
“Lessons from Traveling in the Wilderness” (updated and revised from Bamidbar 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Bamidbar, the people of…