Born in Jerusalem to a Zionist orthodox family, Ruth Gan Kagan is a first generation Israeli. During her studies at the Hebrew University's Faulty of Law Ruth first became involved in interfaith activities that led her to representing Judaism in international conferences, and to a relief project in the Philippines. After passing her bar exams Ruth journeyed to Nepal and India becoming one of the first Shomer Shabbat youth to do what has since become an Israeli rite of passage: spiritual quest in the east. Ruth married Michael Kagan and is a stepmother to his son Itamar and mother to their four children Ori, Itai, Ayelet and Avital.
Together with Michael she has taught classes and workshops that have explored Judaism from a paradigm shift, creative point of view, and co-established "Ruah Hadasha" a group that promoted the teaching of the renewal of Judaism. Around the mid nineties they met Reb Zalman during one of in his visits to Jerusalem, and realized the close connection between the work of Jewish Renewal in America and what they were attempting to explore in Israel.
While her own children were still young (not so long ago) Ruth had a thriving cottage industry of singing groups for parents and babies. With the support of her Mashpiaa, Matananda Ben Shmuel, Ruth realized that it was time for her to enter the world of the spiritual song and started a full time practice of teaching prayer, meditation, devotional singing, and spiritual counseling . When the realization that she needed to become a rabbi hit, Ruth and her family moved to Boulder to gain a deeper exposure to Jewish Renewal in its creative crucible. Back in Israel Ruth is editing a book that will offer Reb Zalman's teaching to the Israeli readers. Coming from a long linage, where every boy's birth was congratulated by: "another rabbiner was born", Ruth feels very privileged to become the first female rabbi in her family
Ruth would like her inspirers, Rev. Ruth Heflin, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Colette Aboulker - Muscat Z"tzl, to be remembered as a blessing, and to thank her teachers, may they live long: her Mashpeem Reb Zalman and Matananda Ben Shmuel, Rabbi Marcia Prager, her mentors R' Elliot Ginsburg and R' Nadya Gross, Reb Tirzah Firestone, Morah Yehudis Fishman, Reb Miles Krassen and Chazzan Richard Kaplan. She sends love and deep thanks to her family for their continuing support: Her mother Sara Gan, her father Moshe Gan, her parents in law Barbara and Jack Kagan, her siblings Shlomit, Tamar and Avi, Her beloved husband Michael, his son Itamar and their children Ori, Itai, Ayelet and Avital.
