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…

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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…

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Hillel Gross’ Response to the Beginners at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the LSS Beginners Service (Feb 23, 1986)

The video of the live performance of this speech: "I am here tonight on what I fear is a totally vain effort to restore some perspective to this orgy of self-congratulations that you…

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Hilly Gross’ Speech

Hilly Gross' SpeechAt the 10th Anniversary of the Lincoln Square Beginners Service, Hilly Gross describes what happened when…

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…

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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…

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Will I Forgive You for What!?

An ancient Jewish proverb declares: “Loose tongues are worse than wicked hands.”Truth is, people do the most damage to each other with their mouths. Things done with our hands, such as…

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For Your Eyes Only

Did you know that according to the U.S. Postal Service, willfully and knowingly reading someone else's mail is a Federal offense. That’s right, even that department store bill addressed…

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Will I Forgive You for What!?

An ancient Jewish proverb declares: “Loose tongues are worse than wicked hands.” Truth is, people do the most damage to each other with their mouths. Things done with our hands, such as…

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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…

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