Ethics of the Fathers
Ethics – it’s a big word in our day and age. Between political corruption and financial misdeeds, it is easy to wonder what ever happened to even the most basic ethical standards.…
An Ethical Blueprint
Study Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, and recognize how much there is the glean from this incredible ethical blueprint. There is a strong custom to study Pirkei Avot each Shabbat…
Einstein’s Jewish Life
Albert Einstein, whose yahrzeit is today, the 26th of Nissan, is one of the most admired men in history. His name and his face are almost universally recognized, and his scientific…
Learn More
Study the history of Albert Einstein to better appreciate not only his scientific brilliance, but also his connection to Jewish life.
Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day
Yom Hashoah, is observed each year on the 27th of Nissan, unless that date falls adjacent to Shabbat (on Friday), which is the case this year. It is therefore being commemorated tonight…
Never Forget
If you have a family member or know someone who is a Holocaust survivor, be sure to connect with them and record their personal story of survival during World War II. If not, try to find…
Is There Jewish DNA?
Do you remember learning about genes and DNA, about inherited traits and about Gregor Mendel’s pea plants? It has long been known and accepted as a scientific fact that each person’s DNA…
Know Your Family’s Lineage
Set aside time to gather information from extended family members in order to construct a family tree.
Shemini 5785-2025
“Never Again!-Again!” (updated and revised from Shemini 5767-2007) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Two great events have shaped Jewish life in the last 80 years: the Holocaust and the rise…
Isru Chag
The day after vacation is often a time of distraction and disorientation. The same is true of the day following a religious holiday, especially after one of the week-long holidays…
Celebrate Isru Chag
Take some of the uplifting elements of the Passover experience and enjoy a delicious treat or two today in honor of Isru Chag, the name designated for the day that follows the holiday.
Seven Days to the Sea
The Passover celebration lasts seven days (eight days, outside of Israel. For more information as to why, please click here). The first day (and second, outside of Israel) is a Yom Tov,…
Prepare for the Final Celebratory Days of Passover
The seventh day of Passover, which begins tonight, recalls the splitting of the Sea of Reeds and the Shirah (song), which is tomorrow’s Torah reading. In honor of the beginning of the…
What Not To Buy
The joyous holiday of Passover will soon be ending. While after eight days of restrictive eating rules, everyone’s instinct might be to immediately run out to the supermarket and restock…
Restock
When restocking your pantry after Passover, consider giving your business to a local kosher grocery.
The Song of Songs
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your goodly oils, your name is ‘oil poured forth.’ Therefore, the maidens…
Time to Think
Designate time during the holiday to contemplate the relationship between God and the Jewish people.
Chol Hamoed
Most holidays in Western society last for a single day, which is often extended into the weekend. And, while most people are aware that Chanukah is celebrated for eight days, many people…
Holiday Greetings
On Chol Hamoed, the intermediary days of Passover, take a moment to wish others a wonderful holiday with the words Moadim l’Simcha or Gut Moed.
The Great Shabbat
This Shabbat, the Shabbat immediately preceding Passover, is known as Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Shabbat. It is best known for being the Shabbat on which the rabbi of the community (or…
Make it a Great Shabbat
Celebrate Shabbat HaGadol by dedicating time this Shabbat to reading through the Haggadah and preparing for the seder so that that you will find the actual seder experience that much more…
Passover 5785-2025
“Ancient Customs in a New Light” (updated and revised from Passover 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Due to the festival of Passover, the regular Torah reading from the book of…
Searching for Chametz
On Passover, Jews are commanded to get rid of all “chametz” (leaven) which may be in their possession. It is not unusual to begin cleaning and scrubbing the home weeks before the holiday.…
Plan Your Search
Be sure to set aside time tonight to search your home for any remaining chametz.
Setting the Seder Table
Before beginning the seder this coming Saturday night, it is important to make certain to prepare everything that will be necessary. No seder table is complete without the following…
Ready, Set, Seder!
Aside from purchasing the items that you will need for your seder table, watch NJOP’s Passover Seder 101 web series featuring Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald. Click here for 15 short webisodes…
Four Cups of Wine
Like almost all festival meals, the Passover seder begins with Kiddush, the sanctification of the day over a cup of wine. On Passover, however, the first cup of wine is followed by three…
Shop for Your Favorite
There's more than Manischewitz! Choose from a wide selection of kosher wine or grape juice and enhance the experience for yourself and for those guests who may be joining you at your…
Tzav 5785-2025
“Zevach Sh’lamim--Learning to Celebrate Life” (updated and revised from Tzav 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, we learn of the Peace…
The Passover Story in Brief
On Passover, we commemorate the exodus from Egyptian slavery. The following is a brief summary: Jacob’s family came to Egypt to escape a famine in Canaan. Joseph, Jacob’s son who had…