Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on October 15, 2015 by Hannah Joy
(Cross-posted from Hannah Elovitz’s blog Finding Joy in Jerusalem: http://joyinjlem.blogspot.co.il/2015/10/start-somewhere-parshat-bereishit-5776.html) Good Yuntiv. Just kidding. Good Shabbos. This time of year always feels like endless new beginnings to me. For those of us connected to the academic calendar in some way, it’s the start of a new school year. Perhaps for some of us the start Continue Reading »
Posted on July 2, 2014 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: Unsolicited life advice from fellow bus passengers Some of the most interesting stories from this year have happened on buses. (Maybe it’s because Israelis will talk to anyone like they’re family, whether you’re interested in talking or not. Maybe it’s just because I spent a lot of time taking buses.) Here are Continue Reading »
Posted on June 20, 2014 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: I’ve been back for almost two weeks now, and I already miss everything: the Hebrew, Egged bus drivers, taxi drivers, “shabbat shaloms” from cashiers, always available shwarma, everything about Pardes, and so much more. Though I must say, I have never so appreciated the orderly lines and hassle-free grocery shopping at Shoppers Continue Reading »
Posted on June 2, 2014 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: You don’t know it all. But nobody does, so don’t sweat it. (But do keep learning!) Sometimes the scenic route is the best, in Talmud and in life. The person in front of you is the most important person in the world. Labels are for jars. My pshat is your drash, and Continue Reading »
Posted on May 23, 2014 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: This past Tuesday night was the Masa Israeli Cultural event at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. Top Israeli artists of all kinds were brought in for us to hear from, and the night culminated in an incredible performance by the Voca People. I chose to go to the session with Alex Levac, a Continue Reading »
Posted on May 21, 2014 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: (I know, I know. I haven’t blogged in months. And my year here will be over in less than three weeks. Unreal.) This past Shabbat was the final Pardes shabbaton. Here are some thoughts I shared at the tisch Friday night. Parshat Bechukotai deals with blessings and curses. It opens with the Continue Reading »
Posted on March 13, 2014 by Hannah Joy
Ingredients Two cans of tomato sauce with mushrooms (Rokeach is good) Two cans full of water Lemon (¼ a cup of lemon juice, or about 1/2 a lemon) Sugar: 2 heaping tablespoons (use equal amounts of lemon & sugar – technically the recipe calls for ½ cup of each, but we use ¼ cup of Continue Reading »
Posted on October 26, 2013 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: A Day in the Life My days here have been filled with questions. Questions posed to and by teachers, classmates, guest speakers, and ourselves. Questions about minute details, major moral issues, and everything in between. Questions that we can easily answer right away and questions that we fiercely debate. Questions that create Continue Reading »
Posted on October 13, 2013 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: This past week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, made me think of my own decision to take a year to study in Israel. The first verse reads as follows: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ. Vayomer Hashem el-Avram Lech Lecha me’artzecha umimoladetecha umibeit avicha el-ha’aretz asher ar’eka. “And Continue Reading »
Posted on October 9, 2013 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: Some more of my observations, now that I’ve been here for about a month and a half: Only in Israel… Would the entire country (including the airport) shut down on Yom Kippur, and the streets be empty of cars, but full of people dressed in white walking to synagogue, and bikers enjoying Continue Reading »
