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...

The physical space that encloses us and our prayers is often exquisitely beautiful and majestic, speaking to a different realm entirely....

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...

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...

Zooming alone We are thankfully in the midst of some re-openings, however, our situation will not revert to more innocent times or change...

In my memory, there has never been so much Jewish content available online, for free. Podcasts, interviews, seminars, webinars, zoom...

Remaining in Focus What many of us strive for in life is achieving personal integrity, a state of being when our ‘inside’ motivation...

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...

“…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...

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...

How can your Jewish community maximize campers’ experiences when they arrive home? Summer camp is exhilarating for our Jewish teens. For...

Judaism = Community This season, when so many emotions surge through us, it is comforting to be within a community. That’s part of the...

When deeper meaning transcends religion photo by: Ruth Schapira #Judaism #prayer #ReligionandSpirituality

The Confirmation Ceremony Might Not Be Relevant Today What were you thinking about when you were in 11th grade? Were you thinking about...

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...

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...

How to Bring Camp Home Soon, thousands of Jewish teens will arrive to their home communities, having spent an amazing immersive...

This past Sunday I met with a group of parents interested in checking out options for their teens’ Jewish education. They were committed...

Class Clowns: Not That Funny Recently, I participated in a webinar, sponsored by JESNA, on issues related to complementary...

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....