The Klipah Precedes the Fruit
“If the Torah had not been given, we would still have learned modesty from the cat, industriousness from the ant…” and many important instructions-by-example from the plant kingdom. [TB Eruvin [...]
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 [...]
Shame is Nothing to Be Ashamed About
Rosh HaShana 5779 / 2018[1] Sarah Yehudit Schneider Divine perfection, in order for it to be infinite, must include the possibility of perfecting…a never-ending process by which perfection [...]
Rosh HaShana Through the Years
Rosh HaShana teachings over the years (2004-present).
The Shame Behind Causeless Hatred
A Tisha B’Av Talk and Suggestion for Elul Work Sarah Yehudit Schneider My question is: how can it be, that for two thousand years we’ve known that Baseless Hatred is what caused our exile, [...]
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 [...]
Shavuot through the years
Shavuot teachings over the years (2008-2016).
Symbolic Resonance Permeates the Seder
Pesach 5778 / 2018 Sarah Yehudit Schneider Kadesh. Urchatz We start the seder by pronouncing the fifteen steps that will comprise our evening’s ritual which (among other things) marks the [...]
Pesach Through the Years
Pesach teachings over the years (2003-present.)
The Akeida–A Hero’s Journey
This essay presents Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Gellman’s exploration of the Mei HaShiloach’s teachings on the Akeida that appears in his book “The Fear, the Trembling, and the Fire.” There may be some [...]
When the People are Ready the Obstacles Dissolve
Tisha B’av 5777 / 2017 Sarah Yehudit Schneider [When you come into your Promised Land] HaShem will only uproot the nations before you gradually, little by little. You will not be able to [...]
Turning Wisdom into Oral Torah
Shavuot 5777 / 2017 Sarah Yehudit Schneider If it’s truth then it’s also Torah. [TY RH 3:8] If it’s wisdom then it’s also Torah. [M. Tanchuma, Vayelekh 2] Yet, not exactly, because: [If someone [...]
Blessed Be the Makom…Blessed Be the Giver of Torah…
Pesach 5777 / 2017 Sarah Yehudit Schneider Blessed be the Makom (Place). Blessed be He. Blessed be the one who gave Torah to His people, Israel. Blessed be He. The Torah addresses four children. [...]
Meditation #10 – The Obstacle of Strange Fire (part 2 of 2)
A spiritual path asks its adherents to walk their talk. Yet that is easier said than done. Most of us are challenged by the obstacle of Strange Fire. Meditation, and in particular the practice [...]
The Obstacle of Strange Fire — #9
One of the most difficult and subtle challenges of a spiritual path is the matter of “strange fire” which we’ll define as: “taking pleasure from something that violates one’s own [...]
Prayer as Meditation — #8
Prayer is called “service of the heart” because it’s challenge (and calling) is to commune with Divinity heart to heart. That happens naturally in spontaneous prayer but with [...]
Meditation and Shabbat — Lesson #6
Our break from work on Shabbat creates an atmosphere of rest that permeates both body and soul. But if we also meditate we harness the principle of resonance to bring the peace of Shabbos into [...]
Like it Or Not, We Are In This Together
Shavuot 2014 / 5774 Sarah Yehudit Schneider The Torah’s revelation at Sinai was the most profound manifestation of God that ever transpired on the planet. An estimated four million people beheld [...]
A Tribute to Wheat for Tu B’Shvat
Sarah Yehudit Schneider It is customary to eat fruits and drink wine in celebration of Tu B’Shvat, the Rosh HaShana of fruit trees. And it is fitting to admire each fruit and speak its praises [...]
Paradox #9 — Hashmal Jig 3/3
This illustrated video teaching, called The Hashmal Jig 3/3, is the ninth installment in our series on Paradox. It examines the second step of our Hashmal Jig—the need to make a choice despite [...]
Dewdrops of Light–Shavuot 5773 / 2013
When HaShem revealed the Torah at Sinai, the Israelites died at every word. Their souls flew from their bodies and Hashem revived them with the dew that He will use to resurrect the dead. [MR [...]
Tsafun—Afikoman
Pesach 5773 / 2013 Sarah Yehudit Schneider The 12th step in our seder is called Tsafun—meaning hidden or secret. It follows the festive meal and marks the time for “dessert” which, at the seder, [...]
Illustrated Video Teaching #5 — The Kabbala of I-Centers
This illustrated video teaching is the fifth installment in our series on Paradox. It explores the mystical underpinnings of I-Centers and how they interact to produce a whole greater than the [...]
Paradox 3: The Cosmic Roots of Paradox
“The Cosmic Roots of Paradox” is the third in a series of video presentations that explore Paradox as a Kabbalistic Path of Expanding Consciousness.” It explains why a deepening relationship with [...]
Shavuot 5772 / 2012 (Inspired by Meor v’Shemesh)
Jacob’s ladder reaches up through the worlds to the inwardness of G-d called the Infinite Light. The point of our religion (with its 613 commands) is to bring us up those rungs to meet HaShem [...]