Curse You – Not!
In a perfect world, one would never feel such intense anger at another person that one would actually wish them harm. Alas, we do not live in a perfect world. When emotions run high, some…
Rachel’s Curse
Reward and punishment are complicated concepts. Suffice it to say that Divine intervention in the world is often through seemingly mundane acts. For instance, the Torah describes the…
Balak 5777-2017
“Influencing the Will of G-d” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Balak, we learn that the Moabite king, Balak, the son of Zippor, is overwhelmed with fear as a…
Re’eh 5768-2008
"A Tale of Two Mountains" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Re'eh, Moses sets before the Jewish people a blessing and a curse, assuring them that the blessing…
Noah 5772-2011
“Who is Canaan and Why is He Cursed?” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Noah, we learn of the harsh curse that Noah directed at his grandson, Canaan. After the…
Balak 5770-2010
"A Nation that Dwells Alone" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week's parasha, parashat Balak, Balak, the king of Moab, retains the services of the renowned gentile prophet, Bilaam, to…
Balak 5772-2012
“Balaam, the Sorcerer, Becomes a Prophet” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Balak, we read of how Balak, the Moabite king, hired the pagan prophet, Balaam, to…
Balak 5774-2014
“Upstaged by a Donkey” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Balak, we read of Balak, the king of Moab’s attempt to retain the services of Balaam, the non-Jewish…
Balak 5778-2018
“The Contemporary Impact of the Blessings of Bilaam” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Balak, records Bilaam’s dramatic prophecies regarding the Jewish people.…
Chukat-Balak 5760-2000
"History Repeats Itself! Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This week our Torah portions are doubled. We read both parashiot Chukat and Balak. Parashat…