These and Those

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

Archive: September 2014

[PCJE Dvar Torah] The Lesson of Bikurim: Gratitude in Transition

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Dita Ribner Cooper

For many of us at Pardes, the past few weeks have been marked by transition. We have arrived in a new place, moved into new apartments, met new teachers, roommates, and friends, explored new texts for the very first time, and have been awed and overwhelmed by the wealth of opportunities Pardes has to offer Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Now What? Transition Back to Normalcy

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Dita Ribner Cooper

It is no great secret that to be present in Israel during the week of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut is one of the most emotional, saddening, joyous, and challenging experiences a Jew can have in the present day. In a span of 48 hours, the Jewish people collectively descend into a state of national Continue Reading »

Bittersweet Goodbye

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Dita Ribner Cooper

Today is the beginning of my last week student-teaching at the Heschel school in Manhattan. I have loved so many aspects of my time here from teaching students to meeting the faculty and even observing a few PEP alumni at work! It is inspiring to see how much these alumni appreciate their experiences at Pardes Continue Reading »

My ‘Third Story Midrash’

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Dita Ribner Cooper

Daniel Roth presented our ‘Judaism and Conflict Resolution’ class for Jewish Educators with this assignment, and below is the ‘Third Story’ that I wrote about Jacob and Esav: Jacob As I sit here and write this journal entry, I cannot believe that I have acquired the birthright of my family. It started today when, like Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Finding Blessing in Struggle

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Dita Ribner Cooper

During a hike outside of Jerusalem on our first Pardes shabbaton I found myself walking behind two people that had just met. Like all first meetings go, they each introduced themselves, asked where the other was from, and where the other person was living during his/her year in Pardes. It was the beginning of what Continue Reading »