Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on November 28, 2010 by Shibley
I have written here and there about the shaliach tzibbur (communal emissary) and the importance that that role has in the experience of Jewish prayer. If you go back and read my post about Yom Kippur, I wrote that the shaliach tzibbur for musaf did not have the most magnificent voice, but that his presence, Continue Reading »
Posted on November 24, 2010 by Shibley
Memorization is a powerful tool. Usually we associate memorization with preparation for tests. I want to associate it with prayer. For now, I am going to leave aside the potential halakhic problems that may arise from memorizing prayer, which is fair game for a later post, and instead share my own memorization journey. Last year, Continue Reading »
Posted on November 21, 2010 by Shibley
I have made reference in a number of previous posts to the rain that is supposed to be falling in Israel at this time of the year. The rain has not yet fallen, and the drought has not seen any improvement. Last week, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel declared a day of fasting and prayer Continue Reading »
Posted on November 17, 2010 by Shibley
Transitional moments within davening are generally opportunities to keep the t’fillot at hand moving along without delays that would cause a lapse in concentration or disrupt the atmosphere of holiness. As an aside, halacha takes into consideration this fact, and prohibits the burdening of the congregation. I learned last year at Yeshivat Hadar, that sometimes Continue Reading »
Posted on November 11, 2010 by Shibley
From my blog: Here in Jerusalem, the average rain can be upwards of 500 mm. In the Arava, a portion of the Negev, less than 30 mm of rain fall on average. What grows with 30 mm of rain, not much. As you can see above, plant life is fairly limited. Jerusalem, which is relatively Continue Reading »
Posted on November 11, 2010 by Shibley
From my blog: No, it’s not what you think. This past Kabbalat Shabbat, I was in a youth hostel in Jerusalem, where all of the guests who are so inclined gather together, and hope to assemble enough people and know-how to create a smooth and meaningful davening. Since we are in Jerusalem, the numbers were Continue Reading »
Posted on October 28, 2010 by Shibley
Sunday, chazara. Monday, night seder with R. Levi Cooper. Tuesday, issur v’heter. Wednesday, Kiddushin chevruta. Thursday, Brachot chevruta. If it hadn’t been for the title, you might have thought that the aforementioned days and subjects were merely highlights in a day packed with Torah learning. And if you had thought that, you would have been Continue Reading »
