Vayigash 5770-2009
"How Much is Enough?" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayigash, Joseph dramatically reveals himself to his brothers and instructs them to bring his father…
B’shalach 5766-2006
"The Bones of Joseph" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat B'shalach, opens with millions of Israelites, many of them former slaves, departing from Egypt. At this…
Devarim 5769-2009
"Og Stands Tall on the Stage of History" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In his recapitulation of the events leading up to the people's entry into the land of Israel, Moses recalls the…
Vayeitzei 5770-2009
"Punishment Awaits the Evildoers" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Vayeitzei, we read of the deception of Jacob by his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob, of course,…
Chevra Kadisha
The Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) is a vital volunteer organization known for its anonymity. Helping to bury the dead is considered one of the most altruistic mitzvot, for the…
No Refuge in Alaska
Purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867, the territory of Alaska was the United States’ “Last Frontier.” Following its 1899 gold rush, which helped lay the foundation of Alaskan…
Who Drinks the Water?
It’s a classic ethical dilemma: Two people are lost in the desert with only one water bottle. There is not enough water for both people to reach civilization. Who gets the water, or do…
Chevra Kadisha
The Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) is a vital volunteer organization known for its anonymity. Helping to bury the dead is considered one of the most altruistic mitzvot, for the…
Can You Spare A Lung
Postmortem organ donations seem like a thoroughly altruistic act. However, from a Jewish perspective, there are certain other issues that must be taken into consideration: 1) Is the…
A Ship’s Tale
Well sit right back and you'll hear a tale...Alas, this ship’s tale is no three-hour tour, but the story of the birth of Jewish life in North America. It is well-known that the first…