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Jewish community

Passover 2024-5784

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

Passover 5784-2024
“In Every Generation”
(updated and revised from Passover 5765-2005)

The story of the Exodus and the celebration of the Passover recall the physical salvation of the Jews from the slavery of Egypt at the hand of Pharaoh. But more than the physical suffering of the Jews throughout the ages, the spiritual losses have taken an even greater toll on the Jewish people. Although we are justly focused at this time on the physical security of the State of Israel, the festival of Passover is an important opportunity for Jews the world over, who are now rapidly assimilating, to experience a true spiritual redemption during this Festival of Redemption.

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0 Comments12 Minutes

Devarim 5783-2023

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“Building a ‘New’ Sanctuary”
(updated and revised from Devarim 5764-2004)

This has been a difficult and challenging year for the Jewish people. Terror attacks, anti-Semitism, assimilation and intermarriage are on the rise. It has also been a particularly hard year for observant Jews, who are constantly challenged by new religious issues and the prohibitively expensive cost of maintaining a religious lifestyle. Perhaps what we need during this period of mourning for the Temple, is a period of spiritual chilling-out--to calm down and to rebuild a spiritual and emotional Sanctuary that resides within each of us.

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0 Comments9 Minutes

Balak 5782-2022

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“How Goodly Are Your Tents O’ Jacob”
(updated and revised from Balak 5764-2004)

Targum Jonathan, the Aramaic translation of the Torah, states that Balaam saw the schools of the Jewish people and was moved to say: "How goodly are your tents O' Jacob?" The "number one" priority in Jewish life is to ensure that committed Jews remain committed. There is no better way of ensuring that commitment, than by providing quality intensive Jewish education for our children. If we fail to do so, then our Jewish future is in jeopardy.

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0 Comments16 Minutes

Passover II 5782-2022

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“Counting the Omer”
(Revised and updated from Passover II 5768-2008)

The period of the counting of the Omer commences on the second night of Passover. In ancient Temple times, it was on the second day of Passover that the barley offering was brought, allowing the use and consumption of the newly harvested crop. Today, the Omer period is an ambivalent period on the Jewish calendar. Although it is a period of semi-mourning, it is also a period of significant optimism, when Jews look forward toward redemption and revelation, just as the Exodus led the ancient Hebrews to Mount Sinai and the receiving of the Torah.

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0 Comments7 Minutes

Kee Tisah 5778-2018

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Safeguarding the Covenant"

The Torah provides a formula to safeguard Israel=s covenant with G-d: separate from the negative influences of the non-Jewish nations.

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0 Comments8 Minutes

The Jews of Cyprus

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments3 Minutes

The Hungarian Schism

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

Kee Tisah 5772-2012

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"The Preeminence of Shabbat"

Smack in the middle of the Torah portions dealing extensively with the building of the Tabernacle, the Torah boldly exhorts the people to observe the Sabbath day. What is the relationship between Shabbat and the building of the Temple and Tabernacle?

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0 Comments12 Minutes

Matot 5771-2011

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“Leadership and its Moral Responsibilities”

Parashat Matot underscores the complexity of Jewish leadership. It is from the episode in this parasha that our rabbis derive the important principle that leaders are to be held responsible for the wrongdoings of the people, for they have the power and authority to protest.

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0 Comments9 Minutes

Passover: The Second Days 5768-2008

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Counting the Omer"

The period of the counting of the Omer commences on the second night of Passover. In ancient Temple times, it was on the second day of Passover that the barley offering was brought, allowing the use of the newly harvested crop. Today, the Omer period is an ambivalent period on the Jewish calendar. Although it is a period of semi-mourning, it is also a period of significant optimism, when Jews look forward toward redemption and revelation, just as the Exodus led the ancient Hebrews to Mount Sinai and the receiving of the Torah.

Read More


0 Comments7 Minutes

B’ha’alot’cha 5766-2006

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"With G-d as our Guide"

During their long sojourn in the wilderness, the ancient Israelites were guided by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. In effect, all the journeys of the ancient Hebrews were carefully orchestrated and coordinated by G-d. While the Israelites are no longer physically in the wilderness, there is still a great need for contemporary Jews to be guided by the Al-mighty in all their travels and in all their sojourns.

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0 Comments7 Minutes

Passover I 5765-2005

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"In Every Generation"

The story of the Exodus and the celebration of the Passover recalls the physical salvation of the Jews from the slavery of Egypt at the hand of Pharaoh. But more than the physical suffering of the Jews throughout the ages, the spiritual losses have taken an even greater toll on the Jewish people. The festival of Passover is an important opportunity for the vast majority of the Jews of the world who are now rapidly assimilating to experience a true spiritual redemption during this Festival of Redemption.

Read More


0 Comments8 Minutes

Devarim-Tisha B’Av 5764-2004

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Building a 'New' Sanctuary"

This has been a difficult and challenging year for the Jewish people. Terror attacks, anti-Semitism, assimilation and intermarriage are on the rise. It has also been a particularly hard year for observant Jews, who have been challenged with the appearance of crustaceans in their waters and wigs that might have been used for idolatry. Perhaps what we need during this period of mourning for the Temple is to spiritually chill-out, to calm down and find a sanctuary in our belief system.

Read More


0 Comments7 Minutes

Balak 5764-2004

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"How Goodly are Your Tents O' Jacob?"

Targum Jonathan, the Aramaic translation of the Torah, says that Bilaam saw the schools of the Jewish people and was moved to say: "How goodly are your tents O' Jacob?" The "number one" priority in Jewish life is to ensure that committed Jews remain committed. There is no better way of ensuring that commitment, than by providing outstanding intensive Jewish education for our children. If we fail to do so, then our Jewish future is in jeopardy.

Read More


0 Comments14 Minutes

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