Practicing Perfection

If you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews spend some time practicing the Four Questions with them. (For a quick review, click here)

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Emor 5766-2006

"Striving for Perfection" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Emor, the theme of perfection is repeated many times in several related contexts. In Leviticus…

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Emor 5783-2023

“Striving for Perfection” (updated and revised from Emor 5766-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Emor, the theme of “perfection” appears repeatedly in…

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Emor 5770-2010

"Striving For Perfection" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Much of parashat Emor speaks of holiness, faultlessness, striving for perfection and the proper observance of the holy days. In…

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Yitro 5778-2018

“Striving as a Jewish Ideal” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald   In this week’s parasha, parashat Yitro, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law advises Moses to delegate authority when he sits in…

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Matot-Masei 5770-2010

"Do Not Pollute the Land...Do Not Defile the Land" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In the second of this week's double parashiot, Matot-Masei, the Torah describes the contours of the Levite…

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Re’eh 5766-2006

"Adding or Subtracting" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Re'eh is a rich and colorful parasha that contains 55 mitzvot, 17 positive and 38 negative. Among the most intriguing of the…

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Rosh Hashana 5764-2003

"Making Each Day Count" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter (1847-1905), the second Gerrer rebbe and leader of Polish Jewry, was also known as the S'fas Emes, which is the…

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Rosh Hashana 5783-2022

“Making Each Day Count” (updated and revised from Rosh Hashana 5764-2003) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter (1847-1905), the second Gerrer rebbe and leader of Polish…

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Vayishlach 5762-2001

"Yisrael: the People Who Wrestle with G-d" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Vayishlach, after twenty years with Laban, we find Jacob on his way to…

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