Vayechi,Weekly Message

Vayechi 5778-2017

“Blessing the Children--Revisited” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   This week’s parasha, parashat Vayechi, is chock-full of blessings. Before his passing, Jacob not only blesses his…

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Mikeitz,Weekly Message

Mikeitz 5770-2009

"Pharaoh's Dream: The Variations and Nuances" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Mikeitz, Pharaoh's dream is repeated three times. The dream is first recounted in…

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Vayeitzei,Weekly Message

Vayeitzei 5770-2009

"Punishment Awaits the Evildoers" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, we read of the deception of Jacob by his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob, of course,…

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Metzorah,Weekly Message

Metzorah 5768-2008

"Modesty and Humility for All" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Metzorah, we learn that the affliction of tzah'rah'aht, the disease we are told comes from…

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Lech Lecha,Weekly Message

Lech Lecha 5778-2017

“The Beautiful, Barren Matriarchs” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Lech Lecha, G-d commands Abram and Sarai (their names had not yet been changed), to give…

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Jewish Treats

Biblical Twins

Twins have long been a source of great fascination for many, as demonstrated by the vast number of studies and stories that have used twins as their subject. Twins, however, do not seem…

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Jewish Treats

For Her Protection

Most people look at the world through the perspective of the society in which they were raised. Their views on everything from beauty to manners to equal rights are framed by the history…

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Jewish Treats

Kindness to Animals

Animals are one of the most important “educational tools” God provided to humanity in order to teach them to be “givers.” While animals can’t communicate with the same ability as humans,…

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Jewish Treats

The Spiritual Inheritance

In the Book of Genesis, the question of birthright is the center of several narratives - most famously that of the twin sons of Isaac and Rebecca. Esau, the elder of the two, willingly…

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Jewish Treats

Placing A Veil

One of the most beautiful customs of a traditional Ashkenazi wedding is the ceremony known as the Badeken. The term Badeken is Yiddish for covering, as this is the moment when the bride…

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