Tazria 5784-2024
Urgent message: It’s hard to believe that more than six months have passed since the murderous attack on October 7th, and that the most challenging situation in Israel continues, with…
Tazria 5765-2005
"Some Important Lessons That We Learn from the Ancient Biblical Tzara'at" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The primary theme of this week's parasha, parashat Tazria, is the ancient Biblical…
Matot-Masei 5770-2010
"Do Not Pollute the Land...Do Not Defile the Land" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In the second of this week's double parashiot, Matot-Masei, the Torah describes the contours of the Levite…
Noah 5768-2007
"Noah: A Biblical Profile" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald When compared to the dynamic Abraham and even to the self-indulgent Adam, Noah often pales in comparison to these two great fathers…
Vayeitzei 5763-2002
"The Transformation of Jacob" by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald This week's Torah portion, parashat Vayeitzei, continues the fascinating story of the patriarchal family of Isaac and the saga of…
Vayeitzei 5783-2022
“The Transformation of Jacob” (updated and revised from Vayeitzei 5763-2002) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s Torah portion, parashat Vayeitzei, continues the fascinating story…
Chukat 5765-2005
"Moses gets Battered by the Commentaries" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this coming week's parasha, parashat Chukat, we learn of the sin of May Meriva, Waters of Rebellion, where both…
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,…
Pinchas 5763-2003
"Can a Perfect G-d Sin?" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week's parasha, parashat Pinchas, is replete with fascinating narratives. The parasha opens with G-d's reward to Pinchas for his…
Yom Kippur 5768-2007
"The Role of the Cantor in the High Holiday Services" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. It was in that Temple and the First Temple that…