Chanukka

Since Chanukka and Purim reference toward the future, R. Luria associates them with Mashiach ben David, and the 7th marriage blessing when “the woman of valor becomes the crown to her husband.” [...]

The kabbalists read into Chanukka’s eight days, a journey of progressive tikun down through the sefirot from Binah to Malchut. Curiously, Binah associates with the higher Shekhina called Ima [...]

This Chanukka teaching is dedicated to Yaku, daughter of Heltcha: “Thank you for sharing your light with this world. May blessings of love and healing always be with you on your journeys.” …Karin [...]

Chanukka 2016 / 5777 Sarah Yehudit Schneider Make a menorah out of pure gold. The menorah shall be formed by hammering. Its base, stem, and [decorative] cups, spheres and flowers must be beaten [...]

Chanukka (2015 / 5776) Sarah Yehudit Schneider Based on teachings by R. Tsadok HaKohen[1] and R. Yitzchak Ginsburgh[2] …הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קֹדֶשׁ הֵם. וְאֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ [...]

Sarah Yehudit Schneider   When is the time for lighting Chanukka candles? The earliest (and preferable) time is sunset but one can still fulfill the mitzvah until pedestrians disappear from the [...]

by Sarah Yehudit Schneider In Jewish symbology, the masculine archetype conflates with the sun and the feminine with the moon. Based on this equation the Ari maps out a seven-stage sequence from [...]

Chanukah, 2012 / 5773 Inspired by R. Tsadok HaKohen, Resisei Laila, 56 and 57  Sarah Yehudit Schneider Hillel says to start with one candle and add another each day until, at the end, there’s [...]

A Chanukha Teaching–2011 Based on R. Tsadok Hakohen, Pri Tsadik – Chanuka #1 Sarah Yehudit Schneider A favorite job of the kohanim (Temple priests) was to daily light the menorah in the [...]

Sarah Yehudit Schneider   Among the various categories of mitzvot are those that commemorate significant moments in our history.  Everyone knows that each year when the date comes round that [...]

5769 / 2008 Sarah Yehudit Schneider There is no person or nation that does not have at least a miniscule sliver of holiness. Otherwise it could not exist. Life is a priori evidence of the [...]