A Short Tribute to Etrog for Tu B’Shvat
The word for etrog (אתרוג) relates to the Hebrew root, רגג, which means, “to long and desire.” For this reason etrog corresponds to to the heart area, the center of conscious emotion and desire.
Chanukka—Harbinger of Messianic Gender Shifts to Come
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.” [...]
Chanukka through the years
Just as eyes are windows to the soul, so the Chanukka lights are windows into the soul of the chag.
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 [...]
A Chanukka Meditation from the Zohar
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 [...]
“These Lights are Holy…”: An Instruction for Meditatioin
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 [...]
“…Until there are no stragglers in the marketplace.”
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 [...]
Chanukka and the Feminine
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 [...]
Paradox — A Hanukkah Dilemma
Hanukkah teaches us how to survive exile and how to accomplish the purpose of it. And that brings us the paradox of “isolation and integration” as you shall see. We recommend viewing [...]
Hillel says to move toward many; Shammai says to move toward one
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 [...]
On Chanukka Everyone’s a High Priest
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 [...]
The Inner Search for Pure Oil
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 [...]
Chanukkah, Greece and Democracy
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 [...]