May 17, 2024
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Rabbi Shawn Zell

Rabbi Shawn Zell has recently returned to New Jersey, after serving at a pulpit in Dallas. He possesses certification in teaching Yiddish. Rabbi Zell is the author of three books.

Articles by Rabbi Shawn Zell

Whimsical Sukkot Sayings

Have you ever considered that among the many definitions that explain us as a people, is our ability to transform ourselves from clenched fists on

Food for Thought

Although the term “Mah Nishtanah” is associated with Pesach, readers of this column will have every right to exclaim “Mah Nishtanah” beginning this Sunday night

Light at the End of the Year

Although rarely emphasized and seldom mentioned, faith is a two-way street. As much as the High Holy Days are about our faith in Hashem, where

Prefixing Elul

It has been pointed out that when dealing with holiness, Yiddish respectfully yields to Hebrew. With the month of Elul upon us, it is therefore

Hoffenoong

Among my many wishes in life, is that the message of Shabbat Nachamu leaves a more profound impression on our people than it has recently.

Beyond Words

It was King Solomon in Kohelet who sagaciously suggested that there is a time to remain silent and a time to speak. Over the centuries,

A Disastrous Beginning

The Mishna (Ta’anit 4:6) brings to light five catastrophes that befell our people on the 17th of Tammuz. Each of these catastrophes can be defined

The Goldeneh Medineh

Upon arriving on the shores of this country, our Eastern European ancestors quickly discovered that the streets in the goldeneh medineh or golden land were

Father’s Day Yiddish Style

While countless Americans celebrate Father’s Day, perhaps it behooves us to delve into the folk wisdom of our Eastern European ancestry to see what they

The Long and Winding Road

Mention “The Long and Winding Road” to most American Jews of my generation, and in all likelihood they will associate it with a song written

Did You Ever?

The yahrzeit, or yom hillula, of the venerable and esteemed second-century sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, also known by the acronym Rashbi, was observed this

When Yiddish Yields

Long before American drivers were instructed to yield to drivers who had the right of way, the Yiddish language, with immeasurable respect for holy objects,