Ruthie Hollander, at The Blogs

Ruthie Hollander

May 20, 2026, 9:33 AM

They say you die twice: once when you stop breathing, and again when your name is spoken for the last time. Megillat Rut doesn’t open this way, but it could. The line, often attributed to Hemingway or Banksy, captures a...

May 14, 2026, 6:15 AM

Something historic is happening right now. Will we pay attention?

When the bloomer was invented in the 1800s, it sparked widespread condemnation. Nevermind that women’s clothing of the time was restrictive, heavy, and at times could even be dangerous — the swathes of fabric, panniers, and hoops were viewed...

Apr 23, 2026, 10:31 PM

SubwayTakes and the easy way out

“So what’s your take?” “There should be a kids’ section on flights,” opines the young woman with big teeth and big earrings. “100% agree,” the interviewer shoots back. “There should be a kids’ section everywhere.” This conversation is one of hundreds, maybe...

Sep 11, 2025, 10:57 PM

Featured Post

What we lose when we acknowledge Palestinian suffering

Image by hosny salah from Pixabay (free for use)

Recognizing others' pain doesn’t deny or diminish our own; rather, it protects our humanity - and helps us emulate God

Jul 25, 2025, 8:07 AM

The man who kept nine commandments

As a teenager, I stayed in a small European country for a summer with my family, where I met a rabbi who brought kosher food to a Jewish man convicted of murder. The rabbi’s kids — who often joined...

Jul 18, 2025, 9:14 AM

The Torah story I’ve always avoided — and why I’m rethinking it

I didn’t want to write a d’var Torah this week. When my husband asked why I was procrastinating, I hadn’t yet put my finger on it. But the real reason, I realized, is that I don’t like the story of...

Jul 11, 2025, 7:47 AM

From Moab to Moab

We stood at the edge of the Mesa Arch in Utah an hour after sunrise. The crowds had moved on to other hikes. It was silent, except for the wind moving through the stone, carved by the elements centuries...

Jul 4, 2025, 12:41 AM

Featured Post

Grandpa called it bullsh*t; I call it life

The commandments that align with our pre-existing beliefs are easier, but we don't always have that privilege, just as we can't know the 'why' of everything (Hukat)

Jul 1, 2025, 8:34 PM

3 critical policy questions Zohran Mamdani must answer

The recent New York City primary created shockwaves in Jewish communities across the five boroughs. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani ran a campaign that powerfully and effectively tapped into New Yorkers’ concerns about affordability, a critical issue for...

About Me

Ruthie is the Director of Community & Youth Programming at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Outside of work, you'll find her raising two beautiful daughters with her husband, developing ideas for Jewish continuity and culture, and thinking about the stories no one is telling.