Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 26, 2013 by Laura Marder
It has been a little over a month since my stem cell donation with Gift of Life. During my donation and this past month I have had a really hard time showing and even personally feeling my emotions. It is like I put up a block. Some of you have seen me those few times Continue Reading »
Posted on January 17, 2013 by Laura Marder
In Parshat Bo we are given the first Mitzvah from G-d. The mitzvah of being aware and sanctifying time with Rosh Chodesh. “This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year”. Bo 11:2 While reading BO I tried to Continue Reading »
Posted on December 28, 2012 by Laura Marder
Shabbat Shalom Pardes. I wanted to share a portion of my Dvar torah that I am giving to my Shul tonight… Shabbat Shalom, Last week as my facebook followers know I was standing on a mountain over the dead sea welcoming the Sabbath at a meditation retreat. If I close my eyes I can Continue Reading »
Posted on October 9, 2012 by Laura Marder
Do you ever feel like there is a cage around you? Like you can carry it around but sometimes it gets heavy and tires you down. Perhaps it restrains you from moving in a comfortable way or running to what you really desire. I hadn’t really thought of myself in a cage at all before Continue Reading »
Posted on September 18, 2012 by Laura Marder
In our busy daily lives we are programmed as adults to subdue some of our pure emotions in order to be socially acceptable. Sometimes if not addressed through meditation, prayer, alone time etc ..our pure self can be pushed so far below the surface that even we forget who it is we really are. On Continue Reading »
Posted on September 9, 2012 by Laura Marder
This past Shabbat my roommates and I had the privilege to host new students for Shabbat dinner, as did many other returning students. It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I was starting at Pardes and being welcomed into the community. I remember vividly showing up the first day and feeling Continue Reading »
Posted on July 11, 2012 by Laura Marder
G-d has a plan. I believe that now more than ever. This understanding starts with me sitting on the floor of the airport waiting eagerly for my parents to land in Tel Aviv so we can start our two week adventure. It continues with me back in that same airport 20 hours later flying home Continue Reading »
Posted on June 2, 2012 by Laura Marder
I want to thank you for making me your official hairdresser this year. The salons in the area were all confused where their Pardes clients had gone! It has been an honor and great experience cutting all of your hair. I did not come into my studies at Pardes thinking that it would be a Continue Reading »
Posted on April 3, 2012 by Laura Marder
Sitting in Café B’Gina on Beit Lechem I feel the need to do a review. Fist of all the café is very close to Pardes, located on 74 Derech Beit Lechem it is a 10 minute walk from Pardes. I first heard of this little small nature loving café from my favorite show Srugim. They Continue Reading »
Posted on March 11, 2012 by Laura Marder
After a night of crazy Shushan Purim it was so nice to get together with people from Pardes and re-live the night before. Kendra, Nikki and I had a great time prepping hard for our Seuda and it was all well worth it. My living room was filled with fun breakfast food, mimosa’s, balloons, hamentashen Continue Reading »
