The Shabbath Manifesto

The Shabbath Manifesto was drafted by Re-boot, a group of Jewish artists looking to integrate modernity with tradition. The Manifesto calls for people to unplug once week. Although based on the idea of the Jewish Shabbat experience, the Manifesto has reached across all people groups and religions. Its ideas have been featured in USToday, CNN, and PBS. Below is information from their website: http://www.sabbathmanifesto.org/about including the National Day of Unplugging on March 4.


The Sabbath Manifesto was developed in the same spirit as the Slow Movement, slow food, slow living, by a small group of artists, writers, filmmakers and media professionals who, while not particularly religious, felt a collective need to fight back against our increasingly fast-paced way of living. The idea is to take time off, deadlines and paperwork be damned.

Sundown, Friday, March 4 to Sundown, Saturday, March 5

Are you ready to join us for the National Day of Unplugging?
Can you take the unplug challenge and put down your cell phone, sign out of email, stop your Facebook and Twitter updates? For 24 hours, starting at sundown Friday March 4, 2011, people across the nation will reclaim time, slow down their lives and reconnect with friends, family, the community and themselves. Can’t resist the temptation? We’ve created cell phone sleeping bags.

The Sabbath Manifesto’s principles were created for individual styling, but for one day we are asking you to take on the challenge of Principle Number 1: AVOID TECHNOLOGY.
Now what?
Unplug and give back: Click here to be connected to volunteer opportunities in your local community.
For more info about how to use the Sabbath Manifesto and events leading up to NDU 2011 sign up here.

A friend I made at National Havurah Committe this year just became editor of the Judaism section of Bella Online, a website for women (see http://www.bellaonline.com/).

What's Havurah? I'm so glad you asked. Havurah means "gathering" in Hebrew. Havurot (plural of havurah) are independent groups that gather to pray, celebrate, study, and change the world. They focus on a passion for Judaism and community. NHC brings these groups together for 1 week in New Hampshire each year. (see http://www.havurah.org/).

I went last year and was amazed by the learning and learned a lot about independent minyins.

Just wondering what other people have discovered that has opened up new horizons in Jewish experience?

Book Recommendations

I'll jump in first. I just finished a great book called "Taking Judaism Personally" by Judy Petsonk. I love this book because, as a convert, I'm always look for role models - what does it mean to be a Jew and how do you live out your most deeply held Jewish values? This book has interviews with dozens of Jews as to how they answered that question. Among the notables are Yitz and Blu Greenburg and both Kushner rabbis.

First Post!

This blog is for everyone participating in T.E.'s Empowering Ruth class. It's a space for anything you've discovered that you want to share with the class.

• book recommendations
• a Jewish class you love
• a new volunteer opportunity
• an idea that's inspired you
• a continuation of our class discussion
• your own d'var Torah on this week's portion
• and anything you can think of!

I'll be send this link to everyone in class. Let me know if you need any help posting.

Valerie