These and Those

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

Tag Archives: life after Pardes

Falling behind and bursting bubbles

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Miriam Lorie

This blog was originally published on Miriammuses.com This is a post about the feeling of falling behind in life. But I should also acknowledge falling behind with this blog. I’m going to blame Pesach (Passover), as any Jewish homemaker or Jewish educator probably would. Here’s a bit of a description. Scroll down for the actual Continue Reading »

Meaning for Sale

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Jamie Bornstein

In his writings, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel describes God as the ineffable – that which can be experienced and perceived, but which cannot be adequately described. Rabbi Heschel calls our attention to something stunning and unique to the human condition. While we can only see a definable fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum, and can only Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Pieces of Home

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From Ma’ayan Dyer’s (Spring ’12, Spring ’13) blog: It has been almost a year to the date since I left Israel. I have neglected this blog almost shamefully in the months since, feeling that I don’t have the head space or energy to push it forward with updated posts and the desperately needed new look Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Chazak V’Ematz

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Heather Kantrowitz

My PCJE graduation speech: Chazak V’Ematz – Be strong and resolute. These are the words that Yehoshua spoke to Bnei Yisrael upon entering the land of Israel thousands of years ago. Today, I speak these words to my friends and peers as we prepare to enter new territory – the land of teaching. This fall, Continue Reading »

Volunteering & “La’asok b’Divrei Torah”

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Deborah Renert

Every morning when we recite Birchat haTorah we say “Blessed are You, HaShem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us “la’asok b’divrei Torah.” It has always struck me that this blessing could have utilized clearer wording if it were meant to refer specifically to studying Continue Reading »

Just Keep Learning

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Hannah Joy

From my blog: (I know, I know. I haven’t blogged in months. And my year here will be over in less than three weeks. Unreal.) This past Shabbat was the final Pardes shabbaton. Here are some thoughts I shared at the tisch Friday night. Parshat Bechukotai deals with blessings and curses. It opens with the Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] The Chosen Blessings

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Laura Marder

What do we have to do in order to get the beautiful blessings that are promised to us in this week’s parsha? Blessings that really take care of us – our whole selves, emotionally and physically. Blessings that have blossoming effects on our shared land and bring food and joy to our tables. It seems Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Back to the Temple

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Gabby Goodman

Written by Gabby Goodman (Year ’13) As I got ready to lead the Seder for the first time for my family in New York City this year, I remembered last year when I was at Pardes, when I wondered at the fact that I would be sitting at a Seder table in Jerusalem and saying Continue Reading »

Intentional Community: Creative Thinking

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Carolyn Gerecht

A few weeks ago, an email came across my inbox (and probably yours, too) from David Levin-Kruss. “Ask me about this great opportunity to do Shabbat in Beer Sheva,” read the subject line. “City of Abraham, City of Opportunity.” I read it and figured, “Yeah, why not?” I had never been to Beer Sheva before, Continue Reading »

New tunes amisdt the old

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Alanna Kleinman

From my blog: A few nights ago I went to a music and light festival in the old city. Earlier that day, I signed a contract for my job next year- working with Jewish communities in the South, based in Jackson Mississippi. I’ve become aware of what little time I have left in Israel, and Continue Reading »