Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on June 13, 2014 by Misha Brenner
My words from the final Community Lunch of the 2013-14 Year Program, based off the song “21 Questions” by 50 cent: Mishmei DiRavi Misha Mishum HaRav NateDogg, Zichron LiVracha: Amar Hakadosh Baruch Hu LiTzurba DiPardes… Girl, it’s easy to love me now, but would you love me if I was down, and out, would you Continue Reading »
Posted on June 5, 2014 by Eva Neuhaus
In preparing the people for revelation (Exodus 19), God tells Moshe that God will appear to the people at Sinai, then describes the necessary stipulations: “Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothes.” Then another mention of God’s coming to Mt. Sinai, followed by more constraints: “On the Continue Reading »
Posted on May 23, 2014 by Alanna Kleinman
I’m leaving Israel today. I hurry to catch my plane, held up before security for sentimental reasons. Rushed goodbyes and confusion. I enter the plane with a crowd full of men in black jackets, fur hats, and peyos. I walk inside to find the aisles crowded full of these men, pushing and shoving, frantically fitting Continue Reading »
Posted on May 18, 2014 by Andrea Wiese
My dvar Torah from the Final 2013-14 Shabbaton: In Leviticus 26:42 (ויקרא כו:מב): וְזָכַרְתִּי, אֶת-בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב; וְאַף אֶת-בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם I will remember the brit of Yakov, even the brit of Yitzchak, and even the brit of Avraham. What I want to focus on here is that the text doesn’t just say Avot… it Continue Reading »
Posted on May 8, 2014 by Aliza Riemenschneider
Aliza Riemenschneider (Mechina ’08, PEP ’10) writes regularlyon her own blog, Each & Every bs”d At the closing community lunch, David Bernstein will stand up and make a speech, telling you that you are all b’nei/b’not bayit. Meaning, once you come to Pardes to learn, you are always welcomed back with warm, open arms anytime you Continue Reading »
Posted on April 24, 2014 by Ariel Eliach Forman
This week’s Parsha, Parshat Kedoshim uses the literary device of an “inclusio”. It starts and ends with the same line. דַּבֵּר אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם–קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ: כִּי קָדוֹשׁ, אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. and ends with: וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים, כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה; In the middle, the parsha talks about all the ways and laws Continue Reading »
Posted on March 12, 2014 by Avi Benson-Goldberg
The time was, that when you came into Pardes, the first thing you would see in the morning was Emet Ozar (32) and Jessica Baverman, MSW (27), being cute. Not snarky, but god’s own living Bambi. Unfortunately for us, but blessedly for them, the love birds have flown back to the United States to prepare Continue Reading »
Posted on March 4, 2014 by Andrea Wiese
From my blog: Last Thursday I received an email from my dad. (This is normal, we email a lot.) The email said, “i am getting plates and bowls for you, do you need separate silverware? please let me know your dietary needs. what do you want to eat while you are here? what can you Continue Reading »
Posted on February 13, 2014 by Sam Stern
From my blog: She believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn’t come along, she went over to the palace and got him. For anyone who hasn’t already heard the play-by-play (or can’t wait to hear it again) of the Beit Din/mikva experience, click HERE Continue Reading »
Posted on February 4, 2014 by Jessica Baverman
From my blog: Since I’ve been keeping Shabbat, I have had some that are absolutely fabulous and some that aren’t as much. It depends on whom I’m with, mainly. This past Shabbat was so amazing; I can only attempt to explain it. On Friday night, Emet and I went to a Reform shul. I haven’t Continue Reading »
