The Ten Sephirot

Most people associate kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) with the Zohar (Book of Splendor). However, the earliest text to which the sages refer is Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation).* The exact…

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The Feast of Weeks

Shavuot, which we begin celebrating next Thursday night (May 28), is the only holiday not listed in the Torah by the date on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah instructed that…

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The Feast of Weeks

Shavuot, which we begin celebrating this Sunday night (May 16, 2021), is the only holiday listed in the Torah without the date on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah states that…

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The Feast of Weeks

Shavuot, which we begin celebrating this Saturday night, June 4, is the only holiday listed in the Torah without the date on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah states that this…

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The Feast of Weeks

Shavuot, which we begin celebrating this Thursday night (May 25th), is the only holiday listed in the Torah without the date on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah states that…

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Vayishlach 5762-2001

"Yisrael: the People Who Wrestle with G-d" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Vayishlach, after twenty years with Laban, we find Jacob on his way to…

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Va’eira 5763-2002

"The Exodus--A 'Primitive' Story with Revolutionary Implications" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Jewish history is often perceived, with great justification I might add, as one unending…

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Shavuot

- Shavuot The Festival of Weeks, Holiday of the First Fruit, Time of the Giving of the Torah – the…

Pekudei 5774-2014

“Moses Retires from Center Stage” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Pekudei, the moment for which the People of Israel have long been waiting, has finally…

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Sukkot 5775-2014

“Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov’s Observations on the Sukkot Festival” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov was one of Israel’s most prolific and acclaimed religious writers. His…

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