Ruth SchapiraJun 25, 20214 minFinding SanctuaryThe physical space that encloses us and our prayers is often exquisitely beautiful and majestic, speaking to a different realm entirely....
Ruth SchapiraDec 9, 20204 minspirited prayer from an unlikely sourceSeveral 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 SchapiraSep 16, 20203 minI needed to make the first moveIt 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 SchapiraSep 8, 20204 minHow to create a meaningful Jewish community onlineZooming alone We are thankfully in the midst of some re-openings, however, our situation will not revert to more innocent times or change...
Ruth SchapiraJul 28, 20203 minQuestioning the boon of Zoom JudaismIn my memory, there has never been so much Jewish content available online, for free. Podcasts, interviews, seminars, webinars, zoom...
Ruth SchapiraJun 23, 20203 minJewish Organizations: The Importance of Acting EthicallyRemaining in Focus What many of us strive for in life is achieving personal integrity, a state of being when our ‘inside’ motivation...
Ruth SchapiraOct 3, 20192 minYom Kippur JuxtapositionsHow 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 SchapiraSep 28, 20172 minQuestions 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 SchapiraJan 22, 20172 minWhat 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 SchapiraAug 11, 20162 minFrom Jewish Camp to Home: Five Easy Things to DoHow can your Jewish community maximize campers’ experiences when they arrive home? Summer camp is exhilarating for our Jewish teens. For...
Ruth SchapiraSep 21, 20153 minOne New Way To Join A Jewish CommunityJudaism = Community This season, when so many emotions surge through us, it is comforting to be within a community. That’s part of the...
Ruth SchapiraJun 19, 20151 minA #Jewish Philosopher’s Words on a Presbyterian ChurchWhen deeper meaning transcends religion photo by: Ruth Schapira #Judaism #prayer #ReligionandSpirituality
Ruth SchapiraJun 2, 20153 minThe Truth About The Jewish Rite of Passage That Fails Our TeensThe Confirmation Ceremony Might Not Be Relevant Today What were you thinking about when you were in 11th grade? Were you thinking about...
Ruth SchapiraFeb 18, 20153 minHiring Jewish teen aides? Five things you should knowI 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 SchapiraFeb 13, 20151 minJewish Teens Cross Boundaries to Enhance EngagementAre 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 SchapiraJul 15, 20134 minSeven Things to Do When Teens Come Home from Jewish Summer CampHow to Bring Camp Home Soon, thousands of Jewish teens will arrive to their home communities, having spent an amazing immersive...
Ruth SchapiraApr 23, 20133 minBetrayal, Abandonment, and Jewish Teen EducationThis past Sunday I met with a group of parents interested in checking out options for their teens’ Jewish education. They were committed...
Ruth SchapiraFeb 16, 20133 minDoing a 360 on Attendance in a Part-Time SchoolClass Clowns: Not That Funny Recently, I participated in a webinar, sponsored by JESNA, on issues related to complementary...
Ruth SchapiraJan 13, 20133 min“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....
Ruth SchapiraDec 5, 20122 minThree Jewish Teens: Tons of Time? NotWhat clock do these teens use? I’ll paint the picture. Last night I chatted with a group of three 9th grade teenage boys, hanging out in...