One Thing I Ask {a poem}

Poetry, Jewish LifeJena SchwartzSeptember 26, 2023Yom Kippur, Jewish, Jewish Life, God, PrayerComment

What If You See Me? {a poem}

PoetryJena SchwartzSeptember 22, 2022Jewish, poems, poetry, Contemplative Poetry, High Holidays, compassion, self-compassionComment

Circuitry {a poem}

The arsenal of poems about mothers doesn't need another mother poem

PoetryJena SchwartzMay 8, 2022Mother's Day, Motherhood, motherhood, mothering, mothers and daughters, mothers and sons, guilt, Jewish, ance, intergComment

G’mar Chatima Tova

Jewish LifeJena SchwartzSeptember 15, 2021Yom Kippur, forgiveness, spirituality, ritual, Jewish holidays, JewishComment

The Book of Life Opens

May we remember that sweetness and joy are not antithetical to action and repair, but rather their sacred foundation.

Jewish LifeJena SchwartzSeptember 8, 2021rosh hashanah, High Holidays, Jewish holidays, Jewish, Jewish Life, Tikkun OlamComment

Stay {a poem}

PoetryJena SchwartzSeptember 6, 2021meditation, Mindfulness, mindfulness, sitting, curiosity, Jewish, rosh hashanah, Jewish holidaysComment

God Is Not Perfect

PoetryJena SchwartzOctober 21, 2020God, Religion, Jewish, prose poetry Comment

The Well {a poem}

Poetry, Jewish LifeJena SchwartzAugust 20, 2020Jewish, Jewish life, Jewish time, ElulComment

Day 82: Walk Through the Door

Jewish Life, ResistanceJena SchwartzJune 2, 2020Jewish, Jewish life, bat mitzvah, George Floyd, AntiracismComment

"In Love"

Being part of a community that truly acknowledges and values each person's unique contribution allows each of us to show up fully -- to the page, to our days.

Jewish Life, CommunityJena SchwartzNovember 17, 2019Jewish, Prayer, community, permission, creativity, love, d'varComment

The Sacred Is Never Somewhere Else

My head is foggy, so I wonder why I sat down to write a blog post. But I think that may be the reason, actually. To sit and write even when I am not the least bit inspired feels worthwhile.

If I Had Three Wishes

The first came easily -- for Mani's health to be 100% restored. The others, though, I thought long and hard about as I drove south through farmland and evening light.

Israel: From Imagination to Reality

I listened to all of it, rapt, attentive, a sponge, ears open, heart open, receptive, learning, discerning, knowing that we would have a completely different experience with a different guide, a different perspective and history.

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