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
- Jun 16, 2022
- 3 min
More bad news? What Judaism says:
I am not sure how, if I didn't have a spiritual practice, I would get through the day after a dose of daily news. Even though I severely...
Ruth Schapira
- May 5, 2022
- 2 min
where did my Passover go?
The passage of time has been nothing short of startling for me. During the midst of the pandemic, and even now as things are 'easing up',...
Ruth Schapira
- Mar 1, 2022
- 3 min
The Hidden Meaning of Responsibility
Responsibility, Achrayut / אחריות is one of the character traits that a person focuses on while practicing Mussar and engaging in...
Ruth Schapira
- Oct 22, 2021
- 3 min
Egoism versus Altruism
When we think of the word egotistical, it often has negative connotations. However, it is interesting to note that over time, our culture...
Ruth Schapira
- Aug 24, 2021
- 3 min
Mountain of Mitzvot? Not!
Our tradition tells us that the sole purpose of Torah is for us to refine our character, and the way toward that end is through action,...
Ruth Schapira
- Aug 5, 2021
- 3 min
Changing Day by Day
The rhythm of the Jewish calendar allows us to sense a deeper level of experience beyond the seasonal changes. As we leave the month of...
Ruth Schapira
- Jun 25, 2021
- 4 min
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
- Apr 15, 2021
- 2 min
The Spiritual Steps of the Omer
This year, I am involving myself more personally and seriously than ever before in the counting of the Omer, the period of time between...
Ruth Schapira
- Mar 21, 2021
- 3 min
Passover: The Inner Message of Freedom
Hebrew is full of secrets, embedded with layers and layers of meaning, woven from the thread of reality as Judaism sees it. I happened on...
Ruth Schapira
- Mar 3, 2021
- 3 min
The Jewish Meaning of Happiness
Happy. It's often a response [I just want them to be happy] to the question "What do you want for your children?" Being happy is what our...
Ruth Schapira
- Feb 14, 2021
- 2 min
Shabbat is an Island Escape
Every week, I get to imagine the world as it should be. As Friday night approaches, I look forward to the total disconnect I will have...
Ruth Schapira
- Jan 21, 2021
- 3 min
What Tikkun Olam really means
Tikkun Olam, תיקון עולם, literally "Repair the World" is a Jewish concept that barely needs definition. Showing up in many places, it is...
Ruth Schapira
- Dec 4, 2020
- 2 min
What Exactly is Jewish Identity?
For years, I’ve used the term “Jewish identity”, and never gave it too much thought. As a Jewish educator, the talk among my colleagues...
Ruth Schapira
- Oct 20, 2020
- 3 min
Add your light to the darkness
In the times of Noah, there was total lawlessness in the world. Just 10 generations (according to tradition) after Adam, the world is in...
Ruth Schapira
- Oct 7, 2020
- 2 min
sharing my Jewish journey with you
(Posted originally on “Reclaiming Judaism”) This blog has become an intimate part of my life. I began writing it in 2011 as part of a...
Ruth Schapira
- Sep 29, 2020
- 2 min
A corona Yom Kippur
If you would have asked me what words come to mind when I think about Yom Kippur, the word joy would never have made the top ten list....
Ruth Schapira
- Sep 16, 2020
- 3 min
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
- Sep 8, 2020
- 4 min
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
- Aug 26, 2020
- 4 min
The True Jewish Meaning of Love
This is a new experience for me, responding to a reader request! After reading a post on Gratitude, I was asked to write about Love....
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