Sofya (Sara Ester) Tamarkin is a writer for Chabad.org, Aish.com, and the Times of Israel. She draws inspiration from the journeys of people seeking meaning in their Jewish heritage.
Born in the former Soviet Union, Sofya discovered she was Jewish at the age of 10. After immigrating to the United States in 1989, she received a blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe and embarked on a journey, rediscovering her Jewish identity. Her unconventional journey included lessons from missionaries, learning to light Shabbat candles from Barbara Streisands's movie Yentl, and gaining profound wisdom during an encounter with President Mikhail Gorbachev. Her life is a proof that Light can be found in the most unlikely places. Sofya holds an MBA degree and manages an orthopedic company. She is a yoga teacher and a Certified Life Coach. Mrs. Tamarkin is the author of three Jewish children’s books in Russian. Sofya is a “storyteller” who participates in national storytelling events. Having traveled to 90 countries, Sofya learns from diverse life experiences of people she meets. Sofya's mission is to collect 'sparks' and to celebrate our communal Jewish destiny.