These and Those

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

Tag Archives: courses

Week 25: Topsy-Turvy

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) There is a Jewish saying that when the month of Adar enters, joy increases, and another that when Adar comes, the world stands on its head. Officially, Rosh Chodesh Adar was Thursday, but the preceding week gave it a running start.   The first day of Women Continue Reading »

Genesis 16: Narrative

Posted on February 23, 2012 by aliza

This semester I am taking a course in Peace and Conflict.  Recently we have been talking about the power of narrative to color, and help resolve conflict.  The challenge is always to understand the narrative of both sides so well that you see them in their highest light.  In order to begin this work, we Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Hitbodidut

Posted on February 21, 2012 by David Bogomolny

Dear G-d, I’m going to write to You now to review our shared experience of the last hour. I preceded my hitbodidut discussion with a quiet meditation in the yard by my apartment. I meditated for twenty five minutes or so, and I was very pleased to find that my alarm signaled the end of Continue Reading »

Bring-your-Mom-to-Pardes Day

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Mira

The shift from first semester to second semester started during our week off when half of Pardes went on a tiyul to the Arava desert. I’m not a hiking fan, but I love the desert in Israel and have always felt connected to it. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect on my Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Spiritual Chevruta

Posted on February 14, 2012 by David Bogomolny

She was sitting on an adjacent couch, typing on her computer. Her weekly post was due, and they had completed their session within the past hour. They both thought that posting soon after their experience would be easier – while the thoughts and feelings were still fresh. Her phone rang, and she picked it up. Continue Reading »

Week 23: Planting Seeds

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) Some of my fondest Jewish childhood memories are of Tu B’Shvat. Every year in Sunday School, we at Beth Israel Center threw a huge seder, with tens of species of exotic and familiar fruits, and a student-made Hagadda. Every year I looked forward to watching the grape Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] The Meditation Practice

Posted on February 7, 2012 by David Bogomolny

He was sitting at a cafe in Jerusalem, typing on his laptop. He had meditated for only the third time ever that same evening, and he was ready to write about the experience, but he wasn’t sure where to begin. He was overwhelmed. Life had changed for him recently, and change, especially drastic, transatlantic, soul-searching Continue Reading »

Week 22: Aramaic, Women, Meditation, and Other Foreign Languages

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) I decided to challenge myself this semester, to fully take advantage of my time here by trying new Jewish things and getting outside my comfort zones. Since every subject of Torah has its own special jargon, world view, sources, legends, authorities, inside jokes, the result has been Continue Reading »

A “love” Shabbat!

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Andrea Wiese

At Pardes, Shabbat is the topic of many discussions and the focus of a lot of study. Last semester I took Halakah (Jewish Law) and the class focused on Shabbat. I have written about Shabbat on the blog in the past as well. I have been trying to create a Shabbat “space.” One thing I’ve Continue Reading »

Guest Post: Tovah Leah Nachmani

Posted on December 28, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media

Many students have been lucky enough to study with Tovah Leah Nachmani – her ‘Personalizing Prayer’ class is a favorite for students seeking to connect to Jewish tradition in a meaningful, personal way, and we appreciate her for being such an incredibly deep listener. Below is a dvar Torah she recently wrote, with a bonus Continue Reading »