Category: Chanukka

The Chinukh of 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.” R. Luria brings fascinating evidence of the gender shifts that weave through the messianic lineage and narrative.

Chanukka—Harbinger of Messianic Gender Shifts to Come

ZOT CHANUKKA–A TRIBUTE TO THE SHEKHINA

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 (literally, Mother) and Malchut associates with the lower Shekhina called Nukba (literally, Woman). Chanukka thus begins and ends on a feminine note. The first candle (of Binah) accompanies all the subsequent lights, and its last candle (of Malchut) gets honored with a name of its own—Zot Chanukka—(in part) because it enacts the last frame of the Shekhina’s moonlike odyssey (as we shall see).

Category: Chanukka

The Chinukh of Chanukka

Chanukka—Harbinger of Messianic Gender Shifts to Come

ZOT CHANUKKA–A TRIBUTE TO THE SHEKHINA

A Chanukka Meditation from the Zohar

The Menorah: Secret of Ruach HaKodesh

“These Lights are Holy…”: An Instruction for Meditatioin

“…Until there are no stragglers in the marketplace.”

Chanukka and the Feminine

Paradox — A Hanukkah Dilemma

Hillel says to move toward many; Shammai says to move toward one

On Chanukka Everyone’s a High Priest

The Inner Search for Pure Oil

Chanukkah, Greece and Democracy