Masei 5768-2008

"Optimism: The Call of the Hour" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, parashat Masei, the reading of the Book of Numbers is concluded. Parashat Masei opens with a…

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Matot-Masei 5764-2004

"The Mitzvah of Living in the Land of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Masei, the second of this week's double parashiot, G-d speaks to Moses in the Plains of Moab and…

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Shavuot 5765-2005

"Abba's Final Shavuot" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Our father, of blessed memory, Moshe Aaron Buchwald, whom my sisters and I called "Abba," passed away on the 14th of Sivan 5752, June 15,…

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Shoftim 5770-2010

"Enmity" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Shoftim, we once again encounter the concept of the City of Refuge. It is to the City of Refuge that an…

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Sukkot 5771-2010

“A Turning Point for Humankind” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald To most observers, Sukkot is a festival that is closely associated with the celebration of nature. The Torah (Exodus 34:22)…

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Vayeira 5771-2010

"Lessons from the Evil of Sodom" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeira, after the messengers (who were really angels) inform Abraham that his wife, Sarah,…

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Re’eh 5772-2012

“The Gift of Self Esteem” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Re’eh, contains many fascinating themes. Among the most fascinating and challenging are the laws…

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Shemini 5773-2013

"Authentic Religious Ecstasy" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, we read of the tragic deaths of Aaron’s elder sons, Nadav and Abihu. When describing…

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Va’etchanan 5773-2013

"Behold the Beauty of the Land" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Va’etchanan, opens with Moses recalling his heartfelt plea to the Al-mighty, and its rejection,…

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Vayikra 5774-2014

“The Essence of Sacrifice” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayikra, we once again encounter the challenging issue of animal sacrifice. In several previous…

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