Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on December 16, 2013 by Andrea Wiese
There was something very special about this morning’s davening (praying) that I don’t always feel. But it started way before my friend started to sing pesukei d’zimra (the opening blessings). This morning wasn’t your average morning, yes, we came early for davening at 7am like other days, but it was difficult. After the Jerusalem snow Continue Reading »
Posted on December 15, 2013 by Sara Spanjer
On Monday, December 9, one of our fellow students, Nataliya Naydorf, celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at Robinson’s Arch. Despite the cold weather and wet ground, we were all warm listening to Nataliya read beautifully from the Torah, and her meaningful and well written D’var Torah on Parshat Vayechi. Nataliya is, beyond question, a role model Continue Reading »
Posted on December 10, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
From my blog: With Chanukkah break quickly approaching, I searched for the perfect thing to do. Combine a limited budget with a week to fill and I arrived at hiking in the North – the Yam L’Yam trail to be more specific. In Hebrew, yam means sea and, thus, the hike goes from the Mediterranean Sea to Continue Reading »
Posted on December 9, 2013 by Debra Weiner-Solomont
by Debra Weiner, staff member since 1998 Pardes is more than a place to work, Pardes is family. Staff and faculty are connected outside of the office and Beit Midrash. This year I had the special zechut (privilege) to spend the last night of Chanukah with Arlene Harel. Arlene lives in the Nachlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 4, 2013 by Andrea Wiese
Originally posted on her blog. This month, Tevet, at the Kotel really felt different. Maybe it was logistics. It started at 8am and not 7am. I decided to walk. Someone (from WoW) stopped on their way when they recognized me, picked me up, and gave me a ride. Pardes is on Hanukkah break so I Continue Reading »
Posted on November 29, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
From my blog: מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה. רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ. Grateful I am before you, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great. These are the first words that leave our lips in the morning – while still laying in bed. Continue Reading »
Posted on November 26, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Photos from the Negev Tiyul
Posted on November 23, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: In college, Shabbat was always the most social time of the week. I spent Sunday through Friday holed up in my room reading 19th century literature, tucked into a corner of the library writing short stories about God, or sitting studiously in a PowerPoint-endowed classroom, furiously scribbling notes. On Shabbat, I would Continue Reading »
Posted on October 9, 2013 by Alanna Kleinman
Time has come to define my year here. Not exactly time itself, rather, how I interact with time. When I describe my goal for the year, the whole concept of my studies here, it often becomes described as “taking time off.”This phrase boggles me. Can someone actually take time off from life? This phrase hints Continue Reading »
Posted on September 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
From my blog: As most of you know, my mom’s birthday falls 6 days before mine. I always like to say that I was the best birthday present she ever got; even if I was a few days late. When I was wishing her a happy birthday, it dawned on me how closely our birthdays Continue Reading »
