Ruth Schapira
4 ways to add meaning to a Bar / Bat Mitzvah
Of course there's meaning in the ceremony, but often the goal of sustained impact is not as easy as you might think. Teens are exposed...
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Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Parents: Don’t let summer choices drive you crazy. Ask these questions.
Summer camp. Arts classes. Internships. Specialty Sports Camps. College Prep Programs. Travel programs. SAT summer prep classes....
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
From Jewish Camp to Home: Five Easy Things to Do
How can your Jewish community maximize campers’ experiences when they arrive home? Summer camp is exhilarating for our Jewish teens. For...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Now Is The Time To Start Writing Your College Essay
What Should I Write About? Writing Your College Essay Is Never Easy! The time to begin your essay has never been more perfect. Your...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
My Advice to Parents Before Your Teenager Leaves for College
Dorm stuff? Check. Water? Check. Values? For those teens who have hopefully garnered enough college acceptance letters to make some...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Jewish Parents: How to decide the best option for your teen this summer
Summer: a time for choices Jewish summer camp. Arts classes. Internships. Specialty Sports Camps. College Prep Programs. Travel...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Hiring Jewish teen aides? Five things you should know
I promise, keep reading, and you’ll get to my five suggestions. But first, some advice…..for a student named Rachel. Here are some things...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Jewish Teen Engagement: Do We Want to Win or Lose the Game
Place your bets on teens! The Jewish community is the throes of change that at times seems to be at a dizzying pace, yet there are still...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
For our teens: what does it really mean to be Jewish?
Is this what it means to be Jewish? A portion of this post can be a lesson plan for Jewish teens, with the image above as the trigger. It...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
the challenge of raising teens in a country missing moral clarity
Ethical clarity? Clueless The year is newly born, yet through the lens of ethics things feel quite stale. The clarity that should come...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Top Ten Questions You Should Ask When Visiting College Campuses Through a Jewish Lens
Finding your Jewish path in college For my family, when selecting college options, it was never solely about the numbers of Jewish...
Ruth Schapira
1 min read
2014 in review
Thank you for visiting Jewish Teens this year and reading my blog! Below are interesting stats from the 2014 annual report prepared by...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
how to write a better college application
Take five, relax, let yourself think about who you want to be….. Before you read further, you need to know this. I am not a college...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Read the Scoop on What Bar and Bat Mitzvah Bios Actually Reveal
What happens after dessert? Synagogue newsletters: not everyone’s optimal reading material when finding a treasured bit of rare, spare...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
The New Pew Report on Parenting, Priorities, and Faith
A Pew research study says that families have much in common when it comes to values about parenting. According to the website the...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Teens Lose Out When Jewish Education Becomes an Activity
How Much Time Is There to Spend on Jewish Education? People are setting into new routines and school is still in its start-up phase....
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Three Jewish Teens: Lives Lived and Lost
We lost three teenagers today, Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Fraenkel…Baruch Dayan HaEmet…Blessed is the Righteous Judge… In the...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
what parents of Jewish teens told me
I recently had the privilege of meeting with parents who attended informal meetings designed especially for them in locations across...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Jewish Teen Education by the Hour
How much time is too much? How many hours does it take to become knowledgeable about something? I know, it’s a very broad question….but...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
“Lesson-Plan” Your Passover Seder: Ways to Involve Teens
Lesson Plan your Seder! The Passover Seder is considered by many to be the consummate family education event. This inter-generational...
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