These and Those

Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

Archive: June 2013

Reflections

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: It’s hard to believe, but my time in Israel is almost done.  Two days from now, I’ll be in the air on my way home.  And while I haven’t been the best about blogging here regularly, at the moment I feel like a little bit of reflection is in order.  I’m going Continue Reading »

Time to Stir Up Some Controversy…

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: I’d like to use this post to respond to a sentiment that I have frequently heard in recent years among Israelis with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The sentiment goes something like this: “I’m in favor of peace with the Palestinians, including a two-state solution in which the Palestinians would have a Continue Reading »

New Government

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: I currently live in a country with no government. It’s an odd thought, and of course it’s only true under a particular definition of “government.” But in Israel, where “government” is often used to mean “ruling coalition,” this is an ordinary occurrence every time a new Knesset is elected. What’s unique this Continue Reading »

The election happened; now what?

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: This post has been edited based on final election results.  I have crossed out incorrect statements rather than delete them, and put corrections in bold. It seems like the most interesting part of American elections happens before the voting, while the most interesting part of Israeli elections happens afterwards.  In American elections, Continue Reading »

Sirens and Rockets

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Ari Abelman

Originally posted on my blog: On Friday evening, an air-raid siren went off in Jerusalem.  This was not supposed to happen.  We were supposed to be out of range, in a city too holy to Muslims, with too large a Palestinian population.  It appeared that we were wrong.  Hamas had fired a rocket towards Jerusalem, Continue Reading »

Election Time

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: Election day in America is coming up soon.  I just recently sent in my absentee ballot.  And Israel has just called early elections (a phenomenon the does not exist in the American system) for January 22nd, 2013. I’ve always found voting exciting, and I enjoy watching election returns come in in the Continue Reading »

The Old City

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: Over Sukkot vacation, I got to do some relaxing and some traveling.  Sam and I spent a day at the beach in Tel-Aviv, and another day exploring the Old City of Jerusalem.  On previous trips, I spent a lot of time in the Old City’s Jewish quarter, which has a very touristy, Continue Reading »