The Month of Av
The months of the Jewish year are called in the Torah by number only (the first month, second month, etc.). Over time, during the exile, the months assumed the names given to them by host…
Preparing for the Nine Days
The Mishna, in Tractate Ta’anit 27b, teaches that when the month of Av begins, we curtail our joy. Study this overview to prepare for the upcoming “Nine Days” that begin with the onset of…
Devarim 5783-2023
“Building a ‘New’ Sanctuary” (updated and revised from Devarim 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Devarim, is always read on the Shabbat that…
Does Life Begin at 40?
In 1932 Walter Pitkin published his popular self-help book, Life Begins at Forty. Truthfully, before the 20th century, life expectancy, on average, rarely exceeded 40. The number 40 is…
Thoughtful Questions
Learn how to bring peace and radiance into your home tonight by lighting Shabbat candles. Click here for a free copy of NJOP's Guide to Shabbat Candle Lighting. The Shabbat candles that…
The Fate of Babel
Born on July 13, 1894 in Odessa, Isaac Babel’s life spanned a tumultuous time in Russian history. Raised in a middle-class Jewish home, Babel had both a full Jewish education and a robust…
Magen David Adom
The opportunity to save a life (hatzalat nefashot) is one of those unique events that may never occur in a person’s lifetime. Today, Jewish Treats salutes those who often risk life and…
Save a Life
If you are able, train to become an EMT or paramedic, and please consider volunteering, if your local Jewish community has an organized Hatzalah, an organization that offers life-saving…
Immersing the Vessels
When shopping for common kitchen items, one typically does not ask the sales clerk, “Who manufactured them?” But, this information determines whether or not one must fulfill the mitzvah…
Matot-Masei 5783-2023
"The Mitzvah of Living in the Land of Israel” (updated and revised from Matot-Masei 5764-2004) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Masei, the second of this week’s double…