Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on January 30, 2012 by Suzi
By Suzi Brozman If you read Leah Stern’s recent blog entry on Pardes’ catering manager David S. Berman, you’ve got an idea how eloquent a speaker he is. Anyone entering Pardes is immediately aware of the aromas of delicious things-to-come emanating from David’s kitchen (more on that later). The Pardes kitchen is a one-man show. Continue Reading »
Posted on January 27, 2012 by Suzi
By Suzi Brozman She’s quiet, she sits back behind Karen Feuer and near Dr. Bernstein, so unless you’re looking for her, you might just miss Mirta. And that would be a real shame! At Pardes, Mirta means money…not giving it out, but accounting for it. As the Finance person, she’s in charge of the bookkeeper, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 17, 2011 by Suzi
By Suzi Brozman If you’ve spent any time in the Beit Midrash (and what Pardes student hasn’t?), you’ve at least seen the tall, lanky man seated in the corner, earbuds in his ears, study volume open. And chances are good that he’s approached your table and asked, “Is everything good? Any questions?” If, like me, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 11, 2011 by Suzi
By Suzi Brozman You’ve seen her face, always smiling and earnest. You may have noticed her occasional parrot-hued head coverings. But I’ll bet you don’t know that the parrot motif is part of the clown persona she uses in an off-duty activity—Karen is a medical clown (more about that later!) She’s officially the Assistant to Continue Reading »
Posted on November 9, 2011 by Suzi
On Monday, October 24, Pardes students and staff were treated to a brilliant intellectual exercise as Pardes Dean Dr. David Bernstein and Pardes teacher Rabbi David Levin-Kruss debated the recent events which brought hostage Gilad Shalit home to Israel in exchange for over 1,000 incarcerated Palestinian prisoners. The twist? Neither man knew which side of Continue Reading »
Posted on November 5, 2011 by Suzi
All moved in and settled, except of course I’ll be looking for months to figure out where I stashed things. Already forgot where I put my scissors! Here’s what it looks like–gracious, serene, and I might as well be in Italy, at least until I step out into the busy, crazy scene that is Emek Continue Reading »
Posted on November 3, 2011 by Suzi
Wrote this last night: It’s RAINING in Jerusalem Thanks to all the Jews who’ve been praying for this–but couldn’t you have asked it to wait until I got home? Though it was fun walking up Ben Yehuda and watching everybody dancing in the downpour, getting soaked and not caring one tiny bit about it…the youngsters, Continue Reading »
Posted on November 3, 2011 by Suzi
A couple nights ago, I accompanied Rabbi Barry Leff on his monthly visit to the Emmaus monastery near Latrun for Torah study. The monastery sits at the site of a Byzantine church. Couldn’t see much at night, so I hope to go back in the daytime to see the ancient ruins. It was fascinating to Continue Reading »
Posted on November 3, 2011 by Suzi
Interesting experience a couple weeks ago. As some of you know, I’m exploring Jerusalem’s various shuls and traditions. Carlebach, Sephardic, traditional, Modern Orthodox, egalitarian so far. Since I’m in a city with a minyan on every corner, why not! A friend had told me that Kol Haneshama, a Reform kehillah, was holding Simchat Torah services Continue Reading »
Posted on October 30, 2011 by Suzi
Here’s something I wrote on my first day in Israel, standing at the Kotel, my hand pressed against the stones and clutching my steno pad. I couldn’t seem to let go of the ancient wall. I thought I’d publish this on These&Those, and challenge y’all to share your own first impressions of the country. On Sunday, June Continue Reading »
