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war

Matot-Masei 5784-2024

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“Taking a Stand Against the Banality of Evil”
(updated and revised from Matot-Masei 5766-2006)

In Parashat Matot, we learn that the Israelite soldiers are instructed to avenge the harlotry of Midianites that resulted in the deaths of 24,000 Israelites in a plague. Despite
this exceptional instance, the Jewish soldiers are reluctant to kill the women and children, until a Divine command is issued.
Why a Divine command? To teach how concerned Judaism is that killing never ever becomes casual or mundane, and to assure that
indifference to life never finds a home in the hearts of the Jewish people.

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0 Comments11 Minutes

Shoftim 5781-2021

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

“The Torah-the First Environmentally-Friendly Treatise"
(updated and revised from Shoftim 5762-2002)

Among the many revolutionary laws found in the Torah, are the environmental laws found in parashat Shoftim. G-d’s commandment in Genesis to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, "to work the land and to protect it," was humanity's first call for conservation and protecting the environment. This revolutionary message that the Torah introduced 3,300 years ago is as fresh, as vibrant and as green as if it were given today.

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0 Comments10 Minutes

The Jews of Luxembourg

by Jewish Treats

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In the Negev

by Jewish Treats

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It’s Okay To Be Afraid

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

It’s Okay To Be Afraid

by Jewish Treats

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0 Comments2 Minutes

For Her Protection

by Jewish Treats

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Jews and War

by Jewish Treats

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Women and War

by Jewish Treats

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B’shalach 5770-2010

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Va'chamushim - Armed or Otherwise"

When the enslaved Israelites finally leave Egypt, Scripture tells us that they leave "Chamushim," generally translated as armed. The commentators, however, offer many interpretations for the word Chamushim. Even though they are quite different from one another, each interpretation has much validity.

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0 Comments8 Minutes

War In The Torah

by Jewish Treats

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Shoftim 5768-2008

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Waste Not--Want Not"

A single isolated law prohibiting chopping down trees in times of war has evolved into a fundamental body of vital precepts, which prohibit the wanton waste and the callous destruction of property and nature.

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0 Comments7 Minutes

Korach 5767-2007

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Agonizing Over Collective Punishment"

The essence of the argument that Moses and Aaron present to G-d to defend the people of Israel from total destruction because of Korach is their statement "Shall one man sin and You be angry with the entire community?" This argument is at the core of a very real dilemma that the Jewish people face today. What are the parameters, limits and morality of "collective punishment"?

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0 Comments9 Minutes

Matot-Masei 5766-2006

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"Taking a Stand Against the Banality of Evil"

In Parashat Matot, we learn that the Israelite soldiers are instructed to avenge the harlotry of Midianites that resulted in the deaths of 24,000 Israelites in a plague. Despite this exceptional instance, the Jewish soldiers are reluctant to kill the women and children until a Divine command is issued. Why a Divine command? To teach how concerned Judaism is that killing never ever becomes casual or mundane, and to assure that indifference to life never finds a home in the hearts of the Jewish people.

Read More


0 Comments11 Minutes

Shoftim 5762-2002

by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald

"The Torah - The First Environmentalist Treatise"

The Torah's commandment in Genesis to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, "to work the land and to protect it," was humanity's first call for conservation and protecting the environment. This revolutionary message that the Torah introduced 3,300 years ago is as fresh, as vibrant and as green as if it were given today. Many additional revolutionary environmental laws may be found in parashat Shoftim.

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0 Comments9 Minutes

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