These and Those

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

Archive: March 2014

My SermonSlam on ‘Amalek’

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

[Student Profile] Emet Ozar and Jessica Baverman would like to get Married. Once.

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

The time was, that when you came into Pardes, the first thing you would see in the morning was Emet Ozar (32) and Jessica Baverman, MSW (27), being cute. Not snarky, but god’s own living Bambi. Unfortunately for us, but blessedly for them, the love birds have flown back to the United States to prepare Continue Reading »

10 FAQS ABOUT BEING GAY AT PARDES

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

1. WAIT, YOU’RE GAY? I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED! Probably I don’t get this as much as I feel like I do, but hey, we are all humans and so sometimes I go to work in my normal pants and sometimes I go to work in my garish neon-rainbow-flag leather tuchus-less chaps! This is really Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Nataliya Naydorf knows everything about how you use your computer.

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

Nataliya Naydorf read from the Torah last week for the first time. Then there was a terrible snowstorm. She assures me the two are not related. She’s used to the snow, of course, because Nataliya hails from the former Soviet Union (FSU). Her country of origin literally doesn’t exist anymore. I roll this thought around Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Josh Pernick went to public school, but will teach in day schools.

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

Josh Pernick plays doubles tennis at the Israel Tennis center, and needs a regular partner. When I mention that this fact will be making it into the final piece, Josh points out that last night is the first time he’s managed to play doubles, and he played with David Levine. This profile, of course, will Continue Reading »

I just want this to be Perfect

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my blog: This summer, I tried to teach Judaics to 15 year olds for 8 weeks. It was probably a failed mission from the beginning, because the last thing any 15 year old wants to do is spend an hour inside with a 24 year old authority figure, even as patently cool and with-it Continue Reading »

Dancing Israeli Youth

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my Instagram:

I’m compact!

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my blog: i shaved this face and it was actually really difficult. electrical razor, you are not my friend. Thanks to MASA Israel, I’ve had the chance to confirm for myself, in excruciating and extensive detail that Israel is a pretty small country. Like, really small. Usually we mean that the landmass of Israel Continue Reading »

Jews in funny hats and leather straps.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my blog: The thing is, the apparatus of “traditional prayer” are sort of kinky. The thing is, we’re ten men tying ourselves up in leather straps too early in the morning. And we’re enshrouded in these huge sheets, and some people cover their heads and faces and it’s very anonymous even when I know Continue Reading »

Paying a price

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my blog: This week, in Israel, has been particularly focused on the costs of establishing an idealist state in a previously inhabited plot of land. I’m not trying to dig too deep into the politics of it; rather I’m interested in the idea of the prices we pay to live where we do. After Continue Reading »