Chanukka through the years
Just as eyes are windows to the soul, so the Chanukka lights are windows into the soul of the chag.
Converts: Unsung Heroes of the Oral Torah
Shavuot 5778 / 2018 Sarah Yehudit Schneider “And you shall know the soul of a convert // because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” [Ex 23:9] All HaShem’s secrets are buried in the [...]
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 [...]
The Transmutation of Shame though Teshuva
Rosh HaShana 2016 / 5777 Based on R. Tsadok HaKohen, Tikanat HaShavin 5:10-12, Tsidkat HaTsadik [40] Sarah Yehudit Schneider There are three categories of tikunim, says the Leshem, and every [...]
The Torah of Atzilut — The Torah of Souls
Shavuot 2016 /5776 Sarah Yehudit Schneider The Torah revealed at Sinai (on Shavuot) is not the one in our study halls today. Those Tablets shattered when Moshe, witnessing the Golden Calf, cast [...]
A (Short) Discourse on Freedom
Pesach 2016 /5776 Sarah Yehudit Schneider “The reward phase of history called the world-to-come is characterized by unfettered freedom. Liberty (דרור) is its hallmark. Freedom emanates [...]
Topsy-Turvy Gluon Dance ~~ Purim 2016 /5776
A Model for Ahavat Yisrael Sarah Yehudit Schneider כִּי הָמָן בֶּן-הַמְּדָתָא הָאֲגָגִי צֹרֵר [צורר] כָּל-הַיְּהוּדִים חָשַׁב עַל-הַיְּהוּדִים לְאַבְּדָם וְהִפִּיל פּוּר הוּא הַגּוֹרָל לְהֻמָּם [...]
“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 [...]
Sweetening the Dinim – Rosh HaShanna
Rosh HaShana 2013/5774 Sarah Yehudit Schneider Our Rosh Hashana avoda—its soul-searching, lengthy prayers, and special mitzvot—is all directed toward one mysterious aim called “sweetening the [...]
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 [...]
Inviting Our Inner Stranger
A Pesach Teaching 2010 / 5770 by Sarah Yehudit Schneider הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא דִּי אֲכָלוּ אַבְהָתָנָא בְּאַרְעָא דְמִצְרָיִם. כָּל דִּכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכוֹל. כָּל דִּצְרִיךְ יֵיתֵי [...]
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 [...]