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
4 min read
Finding Sanctuary
The physical space that encloses us and our prayers is often exquisitely beautiful and majestic, speaking to a different realm entirely....
Ruth Schapira
4 min read
spirited prayer from an unlikely source
Several years ago, on a lazy Sunday morning toward the end of a weekend getaway, my husband and I were strolling down the main street in...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
I needed to make the first move
It was not hard to take a back seat to my own spiritual growth. As a youngster, I dutifully attended High Holiday services but felt that...
Ruth Schapira
4 min read
How to create a meaningful Jewish community online
Zooming alone We are thankfully in the midst of some re-openings, however, our situation will not revert to more innocent times or change...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Questioning the boon of Zoom Judaism
In my memory, there has never been so much Jewish content available online, for free. Podcasts, interviews, seminars, webinars, zoom...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Jewish Organizations: The Importance of Acting Ethically
Remaining in Focus What many of us strive for in life is achieving personal integrity, a state of being when our ‘inside’ motivation...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Yom Kippur Juxtapositions
How can I reach the heavens when all I can think of is that I need some caffeine? Yom Kippur heightens the juxtaposition between the holy...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
Questions and a Meditation Before Yom Kippur
“…and after the earthquake a fire; but The One was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice….” Kings I 19:12 Am I coming...
Ruth Schapira
2 min read
What do you want to read on a synagogue sign?
We live in a visual world, right? So why not go with that? My morning commute is peppered with the various church signs I pass on my way...
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
3 min read
One New Way To Join A Jewish Community
Judaism = Community This season, when so many emotions surge through us, it is comforting to be within a community. That’s part of the...
Ruth Schapira
1 min read
A #Jewish Philosopher’s Words on a Presbyterian Church
When deeper meaning transcends religion photo by: Ruth Schapira #Judaism #prayer #ReligionandSpirituality
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
The Truth About The Jewish Rite of Passage That Fails Our Teens
The Confirmation Ceremony Might Not Be Relevant Today What were you thinking about when you were in 11th grade? Were you thinking about...
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
1 min read
Jewish Teens Cross Boundaries to Enhance Engagement
Are the fences coming down? The desire to engage as many teens as possible in the Jewish community is part of the reason that two youth...
Ruth Schapira
4 min read
Seven Things to Do When Teens Come Home from Jewish Summer Camp
How to Bring Camp Home Soon, thousands of Jewish teens will arrive to their home communities, having spent an amazing immersive...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Betrayal, Abandonment, and Jewish Teen Education
This past Sunday I met with a group of parents interested in checking out options for their teens’ Jewish education. They were committed...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
Doing a 360 on Attendance in a Part-Time School
Class Clowns: Not That Funny Recently, I participated in a webinar, sponsored by JESNA, on issues related to complementary...
Ruth Schapira
3 min read
“After my Bar Mitzvah, my Dad decided to convert. Will he be a real Jew then?”
Some labels might be useful. Others, not so much. I wasn’t prepared for such a troubling question by this earnest 8th grader in my class....
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