Va’etchanan 5763-2003
"Why the Sh'ma?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This past Shabbat is known as "Shabbat Chazon." Its name derives from the opening words of the Haftorah (the prophetic message) of Isaiah,…
Passover 5763-2003
"Chometz, Matzah and Faith in Redemption" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, the normal Torah portion is preempted by the upcoming holiday of Passover which begins Wednesday evening,…
Yom Ha'atzmaut,Weekly Message,Emor
Emor-Yom Ha’atzmaut 5763-2003
"The Counting of the Omer and the Celebration of Israel's Independence" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Emor, coincides with the celebration of Yom Ha'atzma'ut,…
Re’eh 5763-2003
"The Elusive Blessing of 'Peace'" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's Torah portion, Parashat Re'eh, contains some of the most exalted verses in the entire Torah concerning G-d's…
Lech Lecha 5764-2003
"A Scriptural Assessment of Lot" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald By paying close attention to specific words and verses in the Bible, we can often learn much concerning the Bible's…
Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5763-2003
"Choosing Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald There's something very distinctive about the arrival of the Jewish New Year. Whenever the Jewish High Holiday season draws near there's always…
Devarim 5763-2003
"The Gentle Reproof" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week, we begin reading the fifth book of the Torah, known as Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew. The book of Devarim is also called…
Bereshith 5764-2003
"The Book of Humankind" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald More than 2000 years ago, the rabbis of the Babylonian Jewish community divided the Torah into 54 portions, and began the practice of…
Vayeira 5764-2003
"The Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim-Visiting the Sick" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeira, G-d appears to Abraham in Ay'lonay Mam'rei--the Plains of Mamrei…
Shemini 5763-2003
"Using, Not Abusing, a Sanctified Substance" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, Parashat Shemini, opens on the eighth and final day of the inauguration of the newly…