These and Those

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

Tag Archives: humility

Flowers of Bread

Posted on March 20, 2014 by David Bogomolny

I recently searched for & found these online instructions for making flowers out of old bread. This would be a fun art project – it’s not so complicated: Spread the slices of bread on a tray Crush the bread to form fine crumbs Add in white glue (and paint) to the breadcrumbs Start making the Continue Reading »

[PEP Graduation ’13] Be THE Example

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Ilan Weismark

Here is my Graduation Speech from yesterday: From Masechet Eruvin: אמר רבי אילעאי: בשלשה דברים אדם ניכר: בכוסו, ובכיסו, ובכעסו. ואמרי ליה: אף בשחקו. Using the translation from Steinsaltz…. R. Ilai said: By three things a person is recognized and it becomes known what his true character is: at a time of drinking; when he Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Beha’alotekha 5773: Speaking Against Moshe

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

This week, Neima Novetsky discusses Parashat Beha’alotekha in “Speaking Against Moshe.” beha’alotekha ’73 Shabbat shalom!

The Return

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: It’s back! It’s back! It’s back! What’s back? Oh, you know, that flattish device that clicks when you use it and lights up when you press a button and performs a number of menial tasks such as making writing legible and connecting an individual to the rest of the world… Oh yes, Continue Reading »

Returning in Choice (חוזר בבחירה)

Posted on March 19, 2013 by David Bogomolny

“I assume that you’d consider yourself a ḥozer beteshuva, right?” As somebody who was raised by parents who self-identify as traditional, ḥiloni Jews, and chose himself to live a life committed to and guided by halakha, I’ve come to expect some form of this question from people in conversations about Jewish faith and practice. But this term Continue Reading »

Why Fast for Ta’anit Esther?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

This fast comes in contrast with the feasting of Purim to come. In the Purim story, Esther asked Mordechai to ask the Jews to fast for three days. Some texts say this is because they were preparing for battle and others say this was to invoke God’s help and protection. There are two Hebrew words Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

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

Ben Barer (Fellows ’12) wrote a Torah reflection about Power and Responsibility yesterday, in light of the Israeli elections: While Spider-Man seems capable of handling the (great) power he is given, oftentimes we seem to fail most when power is in our hands. On this day, when democratic elections for the 19th Knesset of the Continue Reading »

Enfranchised

Posted on January 22, 2013 by David Bogomolny

After joining AmeriCorps, getting a graduate degree in public policy, and working for several years at the U.S. Department of Energy, I’ve developed a fascination with politics. I read a lot about U.S. politics, which I’m very familiar with, on a regular basis even though I’ve actually been living in Israel for the past several Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] I also have a dream?

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 »

Does Joseph really forgive his brothers?

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Jenna King Brill

I gave over this dvar at night seder this week: This week’s parasha is Vayechi, in which, among other things, Jacob dies and we see a scene of apparent reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. At first, this seems to be an intimate moment in which everyone comes to understand each other, and by the Continue Reading »