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“Darkness will envelop the world, and a thick cloud the peoples.” (Isaiah 60) Is the prophet not describing, chillingly, the world today? The Malbim, Meir Leibush...
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost What’s more...
Lighting candles is a commandment in Judaism, but it doesn’t necessarily protect a household from fire. So, though we want our Shabbat, Chanukah, and yahrzeit candles...
“One of the best parts of Chanukah is the sheer amount of doughnuts we get to eat.” “I could eat 10 of these.” “This isn’t a...
“And the impure were defeated by the pure.” Throughout Chanukah, this line rings out through our prayers three times a day. We remember how a small...
An old man is walking in the dead of night, holding a lantern to help him navigate the darkness of a deserted alleyway. Observing a group...
This week, Jews around the world will gather once again to commemorate the festival of Chanukah, where we celebrate the victory of the few over many...
Why is Chanukah eight nights long? You know the answer to this one, right? The olive oil needed to light the menorah should have lasted only...
There are few societal ills as ancient and as virulent as antisemitism. It has been ever present, and it merely mutates as we traverse the passage...
For many, it’s a Chanukah family tradition to attend the menorah lighting ceremonies at Sandton City and Norwood Mall. Unfortunately, both centres have cancelled these ceremonies...
“Knishes and fishes, and traditional dishes; Dreidels and teigels and smoked salmon bagels; Piled high on plates and a family that sing; These are a few...
Usually at this time of year, we’re feeling excited. As Chanukah approaches, we begin to look forward to the annual traditions. We look forward to lighting,...
Over the past few days, as I reflected on the significance of the 15th yahrtzeit, marked this week, of my mentor, teacher, and rosh yeshiva, Rabbi...
There’s nothing like the dose of excitement that children add to Jewish holidays. This is particularly true of Chanukah, where children often ignite – or reignite...
TikTok Potatoes It’s hard to believe that 2022 has tik-tokked away already, and here I am, writing Chanukah recipes. At least this year, COVID-19 is behind...
All will agree that the number-one conversation topic at social gatherings through 2022 was which is the best always-on solution. We fiercely debated the advantages of...
Eliyahu David Kay is a hero of the Jewish people. He was murdered in Jerusalem this week for only one reason: being a Jew. He was...
Have you ever heard of Samuel Pierpont Langley? I hadn’t before listening to author and organisational consultant Simon Sinek talk about “How great leaders inspire action”....
Most of us use candles for lighting the chanukiah, but our sages lauded the use of olive oil. The reasons for this are more revealing than...
Chanukah means indulging in tempting sufganiyot and other delicacies. The SA Jewish Report asked two of our favourite food maestros to give us their favourite Chanukah...
It’s the key question to a more stable South Africa – can Eskom keep the lights on? In the Chanukah story, one drop of oil lasted...
You have all heard the joke many times before. The summary of all Jewish holidays: “They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.” To a...
When you think of the word “light”, what comes to mind? Brightness? Warmth? Clarity? Soulfulness? Joy? Vibrancy? How about all the above? Light can mean many...
There’s a lot about Chanukah that speaks to where we are in South Africa’s young democracy right now. And it starts, like many Jewish discussions, with...
And just like that, after a blessed four months in which the Jewish community of South Africa got married, had Batmitzvahs and Barmitzvahs, danced the Horah...
Stoicism is the new black. Ryan Holiday, the modern day stoic, has become a personal guru to many, and Marcus Eurelius’ Meditations is flying off the...
“Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.” The immortal lyrics of actor/singer-songwriter Adam Sandler may not strictly reflect reality – at least...
Many of us are familiar with the iconic black and white photograph of a chanukiah on a windowsill with an ominous Swastika banner flying above the...
Light has always been used as a metaphor for revelation. In Kabbalah, the Jewish mystics referred to the highest expression of divinity as “infinite light”. And,...
Shoot me down if you want. Call me what you will. Throw as many vrot tomatoes as you want at me … I think COVID-19 was...
One of the most memorable Chanukah holidays of my life was spent in the Old City of Jerusalem. Walking through the narrow lanes and alleyways of...
Ideas matter. Great leaders are driven and express big ideas. Technical bureaucrats may put policies in motion, but the leaders who made a difference throughout history...
Although the Greeks were the villains in the Chanukah story, and because I can’t write another potato latke or doughnut recipe, I’ve chosen to go Greek...
I was 20 years old when I met one of the greatest rabbis of recent times – Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. A genius with an almost...
Chanukah in South Africa is weird, let’s face it. It’s a festival of lights in the middle of summer! It’s a time to eat greasy latkes...
There’s a joke in the Jewish community that we don’t have happy holidays. I mean, it always goes along the lines of, “They tried to kill...
Don’t miss SAJR Online's special Chanukia pages during the eight days of Chanukah. Each day we will add another candle on the top right hand side...
One of the most remarkable aspects of Chanukah is that its story is so well known. Ask anybody for a brief overview and you can be...
Dont miss SAJR Online's special chanukia pages during the eight days of Chanukah. Each evening we will add another candle
