Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on December 12, 2014 by David Wallach
Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. בראשית ל”ז:י”ט-כ’ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו הִנֵּה בַּעַל הַחֲלֹמוֹת הַלָּזֶה בָּא. וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנַהַרְגֵהוּ וְנַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בְּאַחַד הַבֹּרוֹת וְאָמַרְנוּ חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ וְנִרְאֶה מַה-יִּהְיוּ חֲלֹמֹתָיו. They said to one another, “here comes the dreamer! Let’s kill him and throw him into Continue Reading »
Posted on September 19, 2013 by Ben Schneider
From: my blog The strangest prayer in the siddur is printed with Birkat Kohanim, the section of the repetition of the amidah in which the descendants of the priestly class bless the congregation. As they say their blessing, the siddur instructs one to speedily say this prayer (Koren translation): Master of the Universe, I am Continue Reading »
Posted on August 12, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: Last week, I had a very odd dream. As the dream wound to a close, I remember thinking, I should write a blog post about this. When I woke up, I thought that I had a great blog post to write…then remembered that the blog-worthy events had occurred only in a dream. Continue Reading »
Posted on May 4, 2013 by Laurie Franklin
Don’t count me out. I’m not young. In fact, I am rightfully considered to be among the elders of our community. But I didn’t grow up in yeshivish Judaism, and my knowledge, is how shall we say… Limited by the circumstances of my origin. I’m acutely aware of it here, in Jerusalem, at Pardes. Nonetheless, Continue Reading »
Posted on January 21, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Dan (Year ’10) shared the following reflection on Facebook… his writing is poignant as usual! Dear MLK: from one flawed human being to another flawed human being who changed the world – how did you do it? How did you see a different reality when others said there’s no chance that it will come true? Continue Reading »
Posted on January 6, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Zionism has become a touchy subject for many people in today’s post-modern culture, but here’s a beautiful, articulate piece that describes Pardes alum Alissa Thomas’ (Spring ’11) personal relationship to the concept of Zionism and the modern state of Israel: From alum Alissa Thomas’ Sh’ma Blog: As expected, everyone is thinking, talking, and praying about Continue Reading »
Posted on January 4, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Shira has left us for another adventure, and we miss her… But her insightful writing continues (x-posted here below)! Legacy. A pretty big word around here. Here being Jerusalem, a city that many nations hold dear due to its history and importance in relation to their people, their culture, their religion. As a proud member of Continue Reading »
Posted on December 13, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
This week, Rabbi Michael Hattin discusses Parashat MiKetz. dfs Shabbat Shalom!
Posted on June 3, 2012 by Derek Kwait
(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) So this is it. The end. It’s over. After Shabbat, I’m going to see everyone again in the fall at best, never at worst. Still, this is ultimately what I signed up for, to become a Pardes Alum. I’m almost positive that from the moment I touch Continue Reading »
Posted on December 21, 2011 by Derek Kwait
At my shul back home, Young People’s Synagogue, members take turns giving the d’var Torah each Saturday morning. This is one I gave for Parashat Mikketz/Shabbat Chanukah on December 19, 2009 about the parsha, Chanukah, and the Holocaust. For what it’s worth, these themes repeated themselves again this year when we began learning about the Continue Reading »
