These and Those

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

Tag Archives: holidays

[Pardes From Jerusalem Podcast] Truma 5773: Mutual Respect or Conflict?

Posted on February 14, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

This week, Rabbi Daniel Roth discusses Parashat Truma in “Mutual Respect or Conflict?” Teruma ’73 Click here for more information about the first-ever Jewish Day of Constructive Conflict sponsored by the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution on February 19 (9 Adar), including the resources referenced in the podcast. Shabbat shalom!

Purim is Coming…

Posted on February 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Here are two videos made for last year’s Pardes Purim Shpiel. As you can see, the bar has been set pretty high. Can this years class top this? We’ll soon find out…

[Alumni Guest Post] Sara Brandes – A Purim D’var Torah (a spoken word piece)

Posted on February 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rosh Chodesh Adar is almost over, but Purim is coming soon! A Provocative Purim Poem by Sara Brandes (Year ’01, Fellows ’02, Elul ’05) ENJOY! Rabbi Sara Brandes lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband Hyim, and two children, Michal (5) and Gavi (2). She is West Coast Regional Director at Moving Traditions, and Continue Reading »

Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) Olive Tree Planting

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Rachel Rosenbluth

Tu Bishvat. It’s a day to plant a tree, hug a tree, or nap under a tree. Tu Bishvat symbolizes grounded-ness and growth; rooted-ness and renewal. I celebrated this year’s Tu Bishvat by joining Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) on a trip to Qusra, a Palestinian community in the West Bank. Beginning with blessings in Hebrew Continue Reading »

Tu B’Shvat with the Levites

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Tu Bshvat Today, I said I want to be a Redwood. I want to be big, too big to ignore, A wonder, Almost immortal. I want hugs, lots of them, ya know like when people hold hands to circle your trunk. My fellow Levites got it. They surrounded me with hugs. Two hours later, Psalms Continue Reading »

A Recipe for Tu b’Shevat

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Leah Kahn

This recipe has some middle eastern flair but is also a good recipe for spring because it has some detoxifying ingredients, especially in the greens. There is also a great deal of fiber in the beans and red rice, and if you are sick of tahini, this recipe offers a new spin on the middle Continue Reading »

Sderot, USA

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Derek Kwait

On the Sunday of Chanukah, I went with the Social Justice class to Sderot. You really can’t appreciate what it’s like there until you experience it for yourself. For those who have only heard of Gaza, Sderot is a small working-class city in southern Israel in view of Gaza made up of mostly immigrants. For Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Cara Abrams-Simonton: Memories of my Father

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Cara Abrams-Simonton

Although this week’s parashah, Va’era, is full of many rich elements of our story as a Jewish people, I am drawn to the four promises that God makes to the Jewish people in chapter 6, verses 6 and 7: “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you Continue Reading »

Humans Living Today

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Adam L Masser

A classic example in the spirit of channukah–Shammai and Hillel on how to light a menorah. Shammai takes a literal reading, deduces logically that the miracle provided for 8 days of oil and so tells us to start with 8 flames and reduce each night.  Hillel holds the opposite–start with 1 light and add a Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Our Deepest Fear by Baruch HaLevi

Posted on December 12, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

Baruch HaLevi (Year ’96) shares some Chanukah inspiration with us: Chanukah might be one of the lesser important Jewish holy days from a halachic (Jewish legal) perspective. However, it is perhaps the most important holiday when it comes to Jewish identity and purpose. It is a timeless and timely message and it comes down to Continue Reading »