These and Those

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

Tag Archives: halakha / Jewish law

[Alumni Guest Post] What I Learned At Pardes This Summer

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Adena Kemper

I spent three weeks at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies this summer, and what did I learn? Yes, I learned about Birkat Hamazon in the Gemara and halachah pertaining to women and even postmodern philosophy. Sure, I learned a few new zemiros tunes and how Karaites differ from rabbinic Jews. But above all, at Pardes Continue Reading »

Yet Another Bracha

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Ben Macdonald

Two months ago, I decided to do a little experiment. For those who haven’t heard me talking about it, I decided to take 30 days and live shomer mitzvot. I started on Yom HaZikaron and ended on Shavuot and from the first day in I had a really difficult time. First off I needed to Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] “Because Generally One Who Picks Up Holy Books Peruse Them Before Putting Them Down”

Posted on June 23, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

X-posted from Eryn’s blog post: Eryn London (Summer ’06 & ’07, Community Education ’10, Year ’10-’11, Hourly ’11-’12) made Aliya from New Jersey three years ago. She is currently studying in the Manhiga Hilchatit Program at Midreshet Lindenbaum, which is a 5 year advanced Halacha learning program. Beyond learning she also runs activities at a Continue Reading »

Culture Shock

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Aliza Geller

I don’t mean that I got home and things were different, they were but I’l get to that a little later. This summer I am working at Emma Kaufmann Camp, in Morgantown West Virginia. This is the camp affiliated with the JCC of Pittsburgh, and I have two second cousins who attended. Blue Ridge Mountains? Continue Reading »

Reflections

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Ari Abelman

From my blog: It’s hard to believe, but my time in Israel is almost done.  Two days from now, I’ll be in the air on my way home.  And while I haven’t been the best about blogging here regularly, at the moment I feel like a little bit of reflection is in order.  I’m going Continue Reading »

To Feel – To Know

Posted on June 2, 2013 by David Bogomolny

Here is the reflection I shared at Community Lunch last week- One of the many things that I tell people when discussing Pardes is that I wanted to study here before I ever knew that Pardes existed. As a college student I started wearing a kippah publicly before I had any idea what halakha was Continue Reading »

True Blue

Posted on May 27, 2013 by David Bogomolny

I shared this dvar in honor of the Robbin Landes Family @ a 7 Brachot meal for Hannah Robbin Landes & Eitan Gavson: Dear Sheryl, Rav Landes, Isaac, Hannah and Eitan, I am so touched to have the opportunity to address the five of you directly in celebration of Hannah’s & Eitan’s marriage. Thank you. Continue Reading »

My Modern Jewish Thoughts

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: The most challenging course I am taking at Pardes is called “Critical Issues in Modern Jewish Thought.” There is no Hebrew involved. There is no Aramaic. I don’t even have to memorize birth and death dates of famous Jewish thinkers. What I do have to do, however, is think for myself. And Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Ready!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Sarah Margles (Year ’02, PEP ’04) reflects upon preparing for Shavuot… what does “readiness” mean? I remember when I first started at Pardes, I would spend much of Fridays getting ready for Shabbat – shopping, cooking, cleaning. When the siren went to light candles, my roommate would inevitably yell out, while running from the bathroom Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Bamidbar 5773

Posted on May 10, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

This week Rabbi Michael Hattin discusses Parashat Bemidbar. Bemidbar ’73 Shabbat shalom!