Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on May 30, 2012 by Soffer
Originally posted on the Masa blog a couple weeks ago: By Jordan Soffer, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies This past Shabbat Pardes had a tiyul and Shabbaton to the Galil. Prior to the tiyul, while briefly skimming the itinerary, I imagined that this Shabbaton would be the same as every Shabbaton I have been on since Continue Reading »
Posted on April 27, 2012 by Soffer
Originally posted at my blog: What an exciting time it is in the Jewish calendar! In the span of just three weeks Jews throughout the globe have reaffirmed our freedom with the holiday of Pesah, we have celebrated renewal Rosh Hodesh Iyar, and we danced through the streets of Yerushalayim on Yom Haaztmaut, as we Continue Reading »
Posted on January 12, 2012 by Soffer
Originally posted here. This week we begin the book of Shemot. What is fascinating about how most students learn this narrative is that before even reading the text for the first time, they have already been taught the outcome. Inevitably, the tragedy of Jewish enslavement seems less severe, because the student understands slavery is the Continue Reading »
Posted on November 19, 2011 by Soffer
Posted at Darkeynu just before Shabbat: One of my favorite parts of camp is the Learner’s Minyan every Shabbat morning. In addition to the special community that we build, it also affords us a zman kavua (set time) to really struggle with fundamental questions about prayer. This summer, each week we discussed a different question Continue Reading »
Posted on November 11, 2011 by Soffer
Just posted at Darkeynu: This week, in Parshat Vayeirah, we read one of the most famous, and most troubling, stories in the TaNaKh. G-d calls out to Avraham, commanding him to sacrifice his only son. As if that were not difficult enough, in two separate Midrashim we learn about how eager Avraham was to Continue Reading »
Posted on November 5, 2011 by Soffer
Originally Posted for Shabbat Lech Lecha: Wilt Chamberlain? There is not doubt that he was great. But, Bill Russel? He’s the best that ever was. In sports, greatness cannot be measured in simple statistics–if that were possible, Chamberlain would easily be the greatest player in NBA history. But, as any sports fan knows, there is Continue Reading »
Posted on October 22, 2011 by Soffer
Originally posted on Darkeynu דרכינו: Here are some thoughts I shared with Shechter Westchester students about todays (this was originally posted a few days ago) events: Gilad Shalit….Gilad Ben Aviva Shalit. For too long this simple name has been in the prayers of Jews throughout the world, as we have waited and wondered about this Continue Reading »
Posted on October 9, 2011 by Soffer
Originally posted on Darkeynu דרכינו: וברכה שלום, Throughout my year in Israel, I will use this blog to share what I study in the classroom, and to describe what I observe on the streets; I will discuss not only the Torah that I learn, but also the Torah that I live. I hope that in Continue Reading »
