Danya Ruttenberg
Rabbi and Judaism Expert
Education
- B.A., Religious Studies, Brown University
- M.A., Rabbinic Studies, Ziegler School at American Jewish University
- Rabbinic Ordination, Ziegler School at American Jewish University
Professional Achievements
- Award-winning author of eight books who now makes her primary writing home with the newsletter/magazine LifeIsASacredText.com
- Received the Lives of Commitment Award from Auburn Seminary, and the Rabbinic Human Rights Hero Award from the human rights organization T’ruah
- Named by Newsweek as a “rabbi to watch,” and as a “faith leader to watch” by the Center for American Progress
- Has been a Sunday Washington Post crossword clue (83 Down)
- Most recent book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World, is a National Jewish Book Award winner and an American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Honor Book
- Hailed by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley as “A must-read for anyone navigating the work of justice and healing.”
- Written for a number of publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and featured on NPR, The Today Show, USA Today, and MTV News
- Served as the leading rabbinic voice on Judaism and reproductive freedom, organizing a network of 2500 Rabbi
Certifications & Organizations
- Editorial Board Member, Sh’ma: A Journal of Jewish Ideas, 2009-2019
- Editorial Board Member, Women and Judaism (Peer-review journal), 2005-2024
- Chaverah (Member) of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, 2013-present
- Books include: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World, Nurture the Wow, Surprised by God, The Passionate Torah: Sex and Judaism, Social Justice, and Mend the World
Favorite Piece of Advice
wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Forum Comments (3)
You can also be very sweet and say something like, “I want to bless you. This is the beginning of a long life of Jewish learning and connection.” Offer them blessings for growth and blessings for finding continued meaning in the Torah and in Judaism.
Something to remember, in Judaism, is that we almost always pray in the first person plural, so not “Heal me,” but, “Heal us.” And so the prayer for healing is recited by the entire community three times a day. So when one is ill, one can remember that Jews around the world are praying that everyone who is sick will be healed. You can sort of tap into that energy and feel prayed for.
Also, asking for people to pray for us is an important way for us to remember that we're all connected and interconnected. We can ask for help. We're allowed to ask for help. We're not just left alone on the bed to ask God for healing, but we have a whole community of people who are there to have our back.
If you pick any religious path, it will force you to grapple with so many things that you would rather not face or practice. For example, Shabbat tells you to keep your screen closed or not to spend money, but you kind of want to do those things, right? But it's time to pray right now, but that might not always feel convenient because there are so many ways we want to race around in this culture. However, a religious practice will hold you and ground you in deep and serious ways.
So, ultimately, I would say that spirituality is the intention, and religion is the form.
Q&A Comments (1)
Co-authored Articles (11)
Nicknames for the Devil from Christianity & Other Cultures
Weird, creepy, and funny epithets for the Evil OneWhere does evil come from? This question has plagued humanity since the dawn of man. For a lot of people—especially in prehistory—evil is explained as the product of ...
How to
Blow a Shofar
Blowing the shofar is a religious duty of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Though different sects of Judaism hold different shofar services, the musical technique and individual b...
How to
Tie a Rectangle Tichel
As an Orthodox Jewish person, your ''tichel'' or ''mitpachat'' is perhaps one of the most visible symbols of your faith. 5 June 2025. Many tichel styles are based on triangular scarves or square scarves folded into trian...
How to
Become a Rabbi
As a rabbi, you will act as a spiritual guide for a Jewish community and hold many responsibilities, from leading worship services at a synagogue to counseling your congregation members to working as a community leader. ...
How to
Wear a Yarmulke
A yarmulke, also known as a kippah in Hebrew, is a Jewish head covering traditionally worn by men that symbolizes there’s something between you and God. While it’s not required by law for you to wear one, having a ya...
How to
Be Jewish
Judaism is an ancient religion rich with culture, history, and tradition. Whether you are thinking about converting to Judaism or you simply want to take your Jewish faith a little deeper, there are numerous ways for you...
How to
Observe the Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the week of the Jewish calendar, the day when God completed His Work of Creation and rested. Today, many Jews - especially Orthodox Jews - still observe Shabbat. Having an understanding of t...
The Most Common Jewish Symbols & Their Meanings
Learn all about Jewish iconographyThere are many traditional symbols and signs you may see in traditional Jewish households and synagogues. Some of these are recognizable to many non-Jewish people, like the menorah and t...
How to
Celebrate Sukkot
How to celebrate this Jewish holiday of dwelling & rejoicing Sukkot (Hebrew: "Feast of Booths," "Feast of Tabernacles," or "Feast of the Ingathering") is a Jewish holiday taking place on the 15th day of the month of Tis...
How Do You Celebrate Purim?
Learn all about the festivities and traditions associated with this Jewish holidayPurim is one of the most festive holidays in Judaism. Celebrated annually in either February or March, this joyous holiday commemorates th...
How to
Keep the Sabbath
Christian scripture states, "Remember the Sabbath day keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). This practice is not often followed, though, so it can be difficult to figure out what you should do to keep the Sabbath if you are not ...
