These and Those

Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

Tag Archives: creative davening

(PCJE) Jerusalem Diaries #10…Weekend Retreat/Shabbaton

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Ariella Siegel

From my blog: 9/22/14 (Pictures below!) This past weekend was the first shabbaton, or retreat, of the year with school. It was a really nice way of getting to know people outside of the school environment (which can be intense). Looking at our very scheduled weekend, I was concerned I wouldn’t have enough time for Continue Reading »

[PCJE] Nitzavim, or On Being #9

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Geo Poor

Parshat Nitzavim starts with the children of Israel nitzavim – standing – before God and community, ready to enter into covenant, a covenant with rights and responsibilities, in order to become established as a people. At first glance, this seemed to me like a perfectly logical entrance to a covenant, but then it occurred to Continue Reading »

Jerusalem Diaries #8….Study, study, and more study!

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Ariella Siegel

From my blog: September already! Time flies when you’re being Jewy, I suppose. What a whirlwind! And I’m exhausted! Last we left off, it was orientation and more orientation and lots more orientation and then shabbat. The contrast between doing, doing, doing and then not doing at all (except actually doing, because Shabbos is a Continue Reading »

Homemade Pop-Tarts for Davening on the Tayelet!

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Aliza Geller

I made homemade pop-tarts for tomorrow’s Community Davening on the Tayelet!   [expand title=”click here for info about tomorrow’s davening”] We will begin at 5:05am. Sunrise is at 5:36. Our schedule for the morning is: Birkot HaShahar and Psukei led by Mike Nash and Laura Marder with simultaneous yoga led by Emly (Yoga mats will Continue Reading »

The Practical Dictionary of the Pardes Lexicon: Second Edition

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Derek Kwait

At the end of last year, I gave the world “The Kwait“ the necessarily abridged First Edition of The Practical Dictionary of the Pardes Lexicon. Now, as my Pardes experience comes to a close, I present this still necessarily abridged Second Edition, to be known as “The Kwait Shayni.” This edition, like its predecessor, is Continue Reading »

Kohenet Shacharit prepared by Kohenet Annie Matan Gilbert

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

Wednesday morning, at our weekly Creative Shacharit, I led a Kohenet style davenning. This means that the liturgy of the service follows the arc of a traditional shacharit service but is often not traditional liturgy. This particular service is compiled from chants and prayers from the Kohenet siddur and from my own writing and repertoire. Continue Reading »

[Creative Davening] Shacharit of Healing by Laurie Franklin

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Here is the text of today’s Creative Davening at Pardes: In this week’s parsha, we build and furnish the Mishkan and attire the kohanim. When the work is complete, the Holy Presence comes to dwell among the people. Today, in our Shacharit of Healing, we build our own Mishkan of hope and invite the Presence Continue Reading »

Gemara and roses

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

This wound This wound. Hurts. I look but can’t find it Hiding under layers of scar. Will it hurt more to hold it open to light? I blow on it. Blow away dust. Reveal the bones. Step through the field; take the unclean road. For the sake of dignity, I sing in the dark and Continue Reading »

Why Fast for Ta’anit Esther?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

This fast comes in contrast with the feasting of Purim to come. In the Purim story, Esther asked Mordechai to ask the Jews to fast for three days. Some texts say this is because they were preparing for battle and others say this was to invoke God’s help and protection. There are two Hebrew words Continue Reading »

Prayer for Comfort

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

Thanks to Joseph Shamash for leading an inspiring Creative Shacharit this morning! We spent time practicing the Desire meditation from James Jacobson-Maisels’ Self, Soul and Text class, then were given paper and pens and markers to express what came up for us in the form of a drawing or a prayer, etc. Here is what Continue Reading »