Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on April 23, 2013 by Abayiss
This is a followup to my Erev Yom HaZikaron post Thank you, my friends, for coming out, for keeping my glass full, for helping me through the day. Thank you for standing by me, for holding me up, for comforting me. I missed you, my smiling angels, forever young and beautiful. I missed your smiles and Continue Reading »
Posted on April 14, 2013 by Abayiss
Tonight is the night. No, I am not OK. No, you can not help. No, you do not understand. No, I am not alone. Tonight is the night I dread all year. All the ghosts that have been pushed into the shadows (with the exception of the occasional visit) come out. Tonight is their Continue Reading »
Posted on February 14, 2013 by Abayiss
When I think of my life, look back and reflect, I know she’s always been there. It was ALWAYS her, no matter what, through all the trials and despite our occasional differences, she will always be by my side, and I love her for it. She will never diminish, she is as much a part of me Continue Reading »
Posted on February 5, 2013 by Abayiss
I sit on a hill, overlooking Gaza Strip, so near yet so far. It seems almost peaceful. No planes in the air, no fires, no pillars of smoke. Just the sound of vehicles on the highway below. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was looking at another Israeli town. You’d think there was Continue Reading »
Posted on December 5, 2012 by Abayiss
Mothers shouting, children crying, fathers off fighting. Another explosion, more blood, smoke and fire, injuries, fatalities, trying to find shelter. Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Eshkol, Be’er Sheva, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, Kiryat Malakhi. Gaza, Khan Yunes, Dir el-Balah, Beit Lahia, Nusirat, Rafah, Mughazi, Jibalya, Beit Khanun. Where am I??? Does it matter??? It’s all the Continue Reading »
Posted on December 5, 2012 by Abayiss
A cigarette burns away… Morning, another flyby, another explosion, shouting, running, preparing, packing… A cigarette burns away… Food passed around, small talk, waiting, hoping, praying, joking, cards, coffee… A cigarette burns away… High noon, feeling the heat thanks to the equipment, more food, more coffee, more drilling… A cigarette burns away… Ethical & moral debates, Continue Reading »
Posted on September 16, 2012 by Abayiss
Shabbat Shalom everyone, I hope you are all enjoying our first Shabbaton, communal weekend, so far, resting from the past week, and gathering energy for the next one. This week’s Torah Portion opens with the words “אתם ניצבים היום כולכם”, “Ye are standing this day, all of you” (דברים כ”ט, ט’, Deut. 29:9). All of Continue Reading »