March 3, 2020

Ruth Henkin

Ruth Henkin's family blended two Jewish traditions. Her mother's parents came from Aleppo, Syria, and settled in Panama, while her father came from a Polish family and was born in Israel. Her parents met in Israel through a mutual friend, married there, and then her father moved to Panama, taking on the Sephardic tradition. Ruth grew up in Panama City, where most of the country's Jews lived, attending Jewish school from pre-K through high school and enjoying a warm, traditional Jewish life centered on family, weekly Shabbat dinners, and holiday celebrations with grandparents and cousins. Her grandmother and mother were active in community organizations, and her father ran a laundromat business in Panama's poorer areas.

Ruth came to the United States almost by accident. While visiting a close friend and future business partner in Dallas, she met her husband, Scott, who was already living there. They married when she was 24, lived in Florida for about seven months, and then moved to Dallas, which has been home ever since. Leaving her family in Panama was hard, but her mother sensed she was marrying someone wonderful. Ruth and Scott, who came from a Reform background while she was raised traditionally, explored their faith together and eventually settled into a modern Orthodox life, keeping Shabbat and raising their three daughters in Jewish schools.

In Dallas, Ruth began as a stay-at-home mother, volunteering at her daughters' preschools and often working in the kitchen. Missing her Sephardic food, she taught herself to cook, and after catering an event at a friend's request, she and her partner Ceci launched what became a catering business of more than 23 years. Ruth remains devoted to her three daughters, Rachel, Stephanie, and Hannah, and to her faith and community, supporting causes through her business and volunteering. She cherishes her many friends, who have become family, loves Israel, and considers Dallas her true home.

Read Full Transcript