These and Those

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

Tag Archives: personal growth / transformation

Psalmist and Prophet

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Mosheh

The Psalmist is in love, with G-d, with his earthly lover, with being fully Alive.* The Prophet is intimately connected with the Divine Plan and with his community, he / she is deeply pained by our distance, fear, shame, inadequacy, and disconnect from our souls and the Divine Spirit. So he engages, she calls us Continue Reading »

What do Avatar the 3-D movie, making a fetish of Native American culture, and dipping my dishes in a Mikveh the other night all have in common? (or; what am I doing here again?)

Posted on December 26, 2010 by Coretta

In order to tell you the answer to the title question,  I  have to call on memories of that sage who is always going to be beyond all other sages no matter how much I study (at least in the sphere of how much she is influencing me); my mom. When visiting the Native American Continue Reading »

[Take 5] Karen Feuer: December in Israel

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Joel D.

[Take 5] Cheryl Stone on Transformations

Posted on December 19, 2010 by The Director of Digital Media

Reckless youth?

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Mosheh

We see a fascinating and at first glance disturbing pattern in Joseph’s life this week. He tells his brothers about multiple dreams where he is not only in a place of tremendous power and success, but where the brothers are in a place of subjugation. Could he not have left the latter part out? We Continue Reading »

Religion of Mr. Potato Head!

Posted on November 12, 2010 by יעל

My theology of religion is encapsulated in a Mr. Potato Head. Mr. Potato Head is a child’s toy in which a plastic potato can be decorated with attachments for eyes, arms, legs, noses, mouths, and clothing items such as glasses and hats. How does this relate to religion? I look at all religions having the same Continue Reading »

Thoughts on Racial Judaism

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Merissa

Today in class someone asked if I consider myself racially Jewish.  I answered as honestly as possible on the spot, “I don’t know, I am still forming my Jewish identity.”  My thoughts are quick, but not that quick.  Later it occurred to me both why I was speaking in dissent, and how I define myself Continue Reading »

Questioning the Objectivity of Text Interpretation by Ben Barer

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Eryn

I would like to frame this d’var torah as one in which I am exploring Judaism on my own terms. Much of the new ‘positive’ thinking that I have engaged in since beginning my semester at Pardes – that, on the heels of fairly wide-ranging cynicism that reached new heights this past summer – can Continue Reading »

Pardes, TOH'rah, and You :)

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Spirit Wolf

Torah Torah Torah. The ‘TOH’ rah. Meesh (Hammer Kossoy) practically dances around the room (or at least in her seat) while saying these words, speaking of the magnificence of Torah, her whole being consumed with the brilliance of G-d’s revelation and the Rabbis’ inventive minds. I think she’s crazy. During my time at Pardes, these Continue Reading »