These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Fellows Program

[Self / Soul & Text] Dancing as a Spiritual Exercise

Posted on April 30, 2012 by David Bogomolny

The dancing activity brought up some interesting issues for me, which I haven’t entirely sorted through. I was dancing alone in a corner for the duration of three dances, and I felt very free to move about as I wanted to. I had my eyes closed for much of the time, and I was focused Continue Reading »

Of Religious Atheists

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Barer

“Why do you wear a Kippah?” “What could you possibly get out of davenning [prayer]? “Why grow an itchy beard for a month?” These questions, and others like them, have all been asked of me, specifically in light of the fact that I do not believe in God.  They are all valid questions, and have Continue Reading »

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Barer

This week’s double parsha contains many portions central to Jewish life today, and they are widely discussed, both this week and year-round.  I want to focus, instead, of an issue of form I noticed.  Early in the week’s reading, there are a number of laws laid out – e.g. laws related to human and non-human animal Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Practice of Visualizing G-d

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David Bogomolny

The practice of visualizing Hashem is not very powerful for me; I strongly prefer to have no image of the Divine. When I focused upon visualizing a particular character trait, I saw an image of a woman that I have romantic feelings for. I believe this has something to do with being motivated to be Continue Reading »

תזריע–מצורע

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Barer

This week’s double parsha is some of the densest and hardest-to-apply material in the Torah, in dealing with seemingly endless details of various bodily ailments and skin maladies.  In trying to find a window into some of the meaning that these chapters might hold for us today, I think it might be helpful to consider Continue Reading »

a poem for Yom Hashoah

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Reka Eszter

Dear All, Coming from a country and family shocked by the Holocaust for all time, I thought that I would share with you one of the poems that was most emotional for me on this topic. János Pilinszky was one of the greatest poets of 20th century Hungarian literature. He was born in 1921 and Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Tahanun Practice

Posted on April 17, 2012 by David Bogomolny

The Tachanun practice that we learned in class has shaped my daily davening. It took my a few minutes in class to take the practice seriously – to really relate to the idea of being dead, rather than just playing dead – but after a while, I was able to see my mat as a Continue Reading »

A little something to brighten our days

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Heligman

I have been studying at Pardes for almost two years now. I am not in the Educators Program or the Year Program – I am in the life program. I want to share why I will never leave Pardes, why Pardes students glow when you ask them about their time there, why I am getting Continue Reading »

The NEW Community Davening – A Halachic Partnershi​p Minyan

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Heligman

It is with excitement that we present the new and improved community davening policy.  We hope that these new guidelines will create a more inclusive davening space that will support all members of the community and remain grounded within a halachic framework.   Community Davening–A Halachic Partnership Minyan Policy:   A minyan is defined as Continue Reading »

מעבדות לחירות [From Slavery To Freedom]

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Barer

[cross-posted from my blog] Celebrating Pesach in Israel, for only the second time in my life, has definitely been a unique and enjoyable experience.  From the relative lack of restrictions on access to delicious food — since so many of the restaurants in the city stay open with completely kosher-for-Pesach menus — to enjoying a Continue Reading »