Athlete and Architect

When Arnold Guttmann was 13 years old, his father drowned in the Danube River, and Arnold decided that he needed to learn how to swim. Six years later, after changing his name to Alfred…

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Vayakehel-Pekudei 5766-2006

"Lessons of Leadership from the Resume of an Architect" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In the first of this week's two parashiot, parashat Vayakhel, Moses selects the craftsmen who are to…

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Vayakhel 5784-2024

“Bezalel's Artistic Legacy” (updated and revised from Vayakhel 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald When this week’s parasha, parashat Vayakhel, lists the abundant talents of Bezalel,…

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Terumah 5773-2013

"Form Over Content, or Content Over Form?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Terumah, is the first in a series of five parashiot that deal with the design,…

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Terumah 5765-2005

"Identifying the Essentials of Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Terumah, is the first of four parashiot: Terumah, Tetzaveh, Vayakhel, Pekudei, and…

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Terumah 5763-2003

"The Mishkan and the Sanctity of the Jewish Home" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald With this week's parasha, we begin a series of five weekly Torah portions that deal with the building of the…

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Terumah-Purim 5760-2000

"The Mishkan: Underscoring the Centrality of the Home in Jewish Life" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, Parashat Terumah, we begin a series of four parashiot…

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Tetzaveh 5764-2004

"Keeping the Priests Humble" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, we read in rather minute detail, about the garments that were worn by the…

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Pekudei 5774-2014

“Moses Retires from Center Stage” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Pekudei, the moment for which the People of Israel have long been waiting, has finally…

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Terumah 5779-2019

“The Mishkan: Underscoring the Centrality of the Home in Jewish Life” (Revised and updated from Terumah 5760-2000) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week’s parasha, parashat…

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