Eikev 5762-2002

"Worshiping G-d With All One's Heart" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Traditional Jewish prayer is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, prayer is meant to be a spontaneous outpouring of…

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Shemini 5781-2021

“Using, Not Abusing, a Sanctified Substance” (updated and revised from Shemini 5763-2003)   by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Shemini, opens at a most…

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Eikev 5781-2021

“Worshiping G-d with All One’s Heart” (Updated and revised from Eikev 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Traditional Jewish prayer is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, prayer…

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Naso 5766-2006

"A Lesson from the N'seeim--the Tribal Leaders" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's Torah portion, parashat Naso, is almost always read on the Shabbat following the festival of…

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Simchat Torah 5764-2003

"Celebrating Torah" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Because of the festivals of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we do not read the normal Torah portion this week. Instead, on Sunday,…

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Passover II 5765-2005

"On the Seventh Day the Walls of Water Split" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald The Passover holiday is divided chronologically into two parts, the first days and the last days. It was on the…

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Yom Kippur 5771-2010

"When Yom Kippur Occurs on Shabbat" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Hebrew calendar is designed so that Yom Kippur can never fall on Friday or Sunday. To prevent Yom Kippur from…

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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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Naso 5765-2005

"A Lesson from the N’seeim--the Tribal Leaders" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Naso, is almost always read after the festival of Shavuot, except after a…

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Nitzavim-Rosh Hashana 5773-2012

“The Return to G-d” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald On the heels of last week’s parasha, Kee Tavo, and G-d’s reproof of the Jewish people contained therein, this week’s parasha, parashat…

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