Cover Your Ears
Understanding proper speech, according to Jewish tradition, is critical to one’s personal development. Proper speech does not refer to manners or etiquette, but rather to avoiding a broad…
Shah! The Evil Eye!
“Oh, what a beautiful baby!” a woman says to another. “Kayn ayin harah,” the mother replies, “There shouldn’t be an evil eye!” What a strange reaction this is! Wouldn’t “thank you” be…
Watch What You Say
One of the greatest figures in early-twentieth century Jewish life was a modest rabbi known as the “Chofetz Chaim” (Translation: He who desires life), in honor of his first published…
Just This Once?
Children notoriously like to test the limits. “If I try to take a cookie, will mom really punish me?” “If I draw on this wall, will dad really be upset?” The job of the parent is to stay…
Tazria 5782-2022
“Tzaraat—The Spiritual-Dermatological Disease” (updated and revised from Tazria 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tazria, as well as parashat…
Metzorah 5776-2016
“G-d Has Pity on the Property of Israel” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Metzorah, opens with a detailed description of the purification ritual for the…
Tazria 5763-2003
"Tzaraat--The Spiritual Dermatological Disease" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This coming week's parasha, parashat Tazria, as well as parashat Metzorah that follows, are among the most…
Metzorah,Tazria,Weekly Message
Tazria-Metzorah 5766-2006
"The Torah's Home Security System" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In parashat Metzorah, the second of this week's double parashiot, we learn how the disease tzara'at (sometimes incorrectly…
Metzorah 5774-2014
“The Peddler and Evil Speech” by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Metzorah, again addresses the Biblical affliction Tzara’at, צָּרַעַת. Parashat Metzorah teaches…
Metzorah,Weekly Message,Tazria
Tazria-Metzorah 5777-2017
“Insights to be Gleaned from the Metzorah, the Person Stricken with the Tzaraat Disease" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s double parasha, Tazria-Metzorah, we learn of the…