Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on September 17, 2013 by Chef David
Some would say that not many, if any foods, are associated with Succot, while so many other festivals have foods that are so obviously related to them (think Kneidelach – Matzoh Balls on Pessach, Tsimmes – Sweet Carrots on Rosh Hashanah…). Many do have the tradition (minhag) to eat stuffed cabbage on Succot, the reason Continue Reading »
Posted on August 14, 2013 by Falynn Schmidt
From my blog: Does any other language have a word for the particular pride we feel when someone we love does something great? I am not sure, but perhaps this is specific to the Jewish people and their languages of Yiddish and Hebrew. Nachas. It is exactly that: a word that describes in two syllables the almost Continue Reading »
Posted on April 1, 2013 by Falynn Schmidt
Originally posted to my blog yesterday, March 31: Today is my mother’s birthday. She would have been 68. What a strange thing to think. Sixty-eight, so young. Such a difficult life, surreal in ways I can’t imagine and in ways I know too well. My mother was an amazing woman, as you’ve either experienced first Continue Reading »
Posted on December 2, 2012 by Falynn Schmidt
Originally posted on my blog: Years ago I heard comedian Yisrael Campbell give his shpiel about converting to Judaism. It is hilariously funny in the way that can only come from truths. In one part, the rabbis ask him, “Do you put your lot in with the Jewish people.” “Sure,” he shrugs, realizing that is Continue Reading »
Posted on November 13, 2012 by Falynn Schmidt
Originally posted on my blog: There is a particular majesty in cresting a hill and taking in the landscape: the great expanse of the Negev Desert or the sparkle of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the Jordan River or the heights of the Golan. There is a sense of awe when your legs work in Continue Reading »
Posted on August 5, 2012 by Falynn Schmidt
J. Benedict Roth will never forget the first time he learned Gemara (Talmud) 23 years ago with Pardes faculty member, Leah Rosenthal. “Leah showed me that the Gemara is like a rough diamond,” Benedict explains. “You take a stone which looks rather uninteresting, and you think you can understand it. But then you crack it open, and suddenly Continue Reading »
Posted on January 30, 2012 by Suzi
By Suzi Brozman If you read Leah Stern’s recent blog entry on Pardes’ catering manager David S. Berman, you’ve got an idea how eloquent a speaker he is. Anyone entering Pardes is immediately aware of the aromas of delicious things-to-come emanating from David’s kitchen (more on that later). The Pardes kitchen is a one-man show. Continue Reading »
Posted on January 27, 2012 by Suzi
By Suzi Brozman She’s quiet, she sits back behind Karen Feuer and near Dr. Bernstein, so unless you’re looking for her, you might just miss Mirta. And that would be a real shame! At Pardes, Mirta means money…not giving it out, but accounting for it. As the Finance person, she’s in charge of the bookkeeper, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 27, 2011 by Chef David
If you aren’t familiar with Pardes Chef David Berman, you should come meet him – he’s really wonderful. At the very least, you should read Leah Stern’s post about him… it’ll give you a “taste” of the man’s personality. Anyway, Chef Berman attended our recent community trip to Hebron, and he typed up a ‘guest Continue Reading »
Posted on December 13, 2011 by Leah Stern
Hello Pardesians and World, I am writing to you from a small cafe in Tel Aviv. I must confess that I was at a loss as to what to talk about in my next blog post. I was going to try to follow my theme of faces in jerusalem of my first blog post, but Continue Reading »
