Boom! Flash!

There’s nothing quite as spectacular on a hot, humid summer day as a thunderstorm. Thick clouds gather, heavy winds blow and a “show” is presented that stimulates all of our senses. A…

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Balak 5781-2021

"Words of Eternal Truth from the Evil Prophet Bilaam” (updated and revised from Balak 5761-2001) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Balak, we encounter Balak,…

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Passover I 5776-2016

“The Children, The Children!” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As we have previously discussed (Passover 5760-2000), children play a central role in the Passover Seder and in the Haggadah.…

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Rosh Hashana 5780-2019

“The Judgment of Ishmael, and its Contemporary Implications for all of G-d's Creatures” (Updated and revised from Rosh Hashana 5761-2000)   Because of Rosh Hashana, instead of…

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Rosh Hashana 5761-2000

"The Judgment of Ishmael and its Contemporary Implications for all of G-d's Creatures" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Because this coming Shabbat is Rosh Hashana, the normal weekly Torah…

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Mishpatim 5765-2005

"The Conundrum of Charity--Who Benefits More?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Mishpatim, contains an abundance of interesting mitzvot. Among the 53…

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Acharei Mot-Kedoshim 5762-2002

"Shaatnez: Understanding Irrational Decrees" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Once again, this week, we have combined parashiot--Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. The theme of the second parasha,…

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Shelach 5765-2005

"Bread Alone" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As the name of the parasha, "Shelach lecha"--send for yourself, indicates, this week's parasha focuses on the 12 scouts that were sent by the…

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Lech Lecha 5763-2002

"The Two Birds of Israel" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parsha, Lech Lecha, Avram (his name has not yet been changed to Avraham) receives a "calling" to go to the…

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Vayishlach 5763-2002

"We Can Forgive the Arabs For Killing Our Children..." by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald As we learn more and more Torah, we cannot help but realize that we frequently learn revolutionary…

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