Read At Mincha
The climax of the Shabbat morning service is the Torah reading, which is often accompanied by great ceremony and beautiful chants. It is also an “interactive” ritual, since numerous…
Sacrifice and Innocence
Inherent in traditional Jewish thought is a longing for the Holy Temple. Many Jews long for the days when columns of smoke rose from the flames of the altar as devout worshipers brought…
Remember the Sacrifice
In addition to the commercial and seasonal associations with Memorial Day, find time to contemplate the sacrifice made by those members of the military and their families, who have…
Tzav–Passover 1 5778-2018
“Making Holiness Contagious” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Tzav, we are reintroduced to the laws of the Mincha, מִנְחָה , the meal offering, that were…
Vayikra 5762-2002
"The Lesson of the Mincha Offering--Giving With a Full Heart" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This coming Shabbat, we begin to read the book of Leviticus, Vayikra, the third book of the Torah.…
Vayikra 5781-2021
“The Lesson of the Mincha Offering--Giving with a Full Heart” (updated and revised from Vayikra 5762-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This Shabbat, we begin to read the book of…
Vayikra 5769-2009
"Shlamim: Expressing Wholehearted Gratitude" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In parashat Vayikra we learn of the various animal sacrifices that are offered to G-d on the Brass (or earthen)…
Vayikra 5774-2014
“The Essence of Sacrifice” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayikra, we once again encounter the challenging issue of animal sacrifice. In several previous…
Vayikra 5777-2017
“רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ --A Sweet Savor unto the L-rd” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, parashat Vayikra, we begin reading the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, which is…
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…