These and Those

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

Tag Archives: poems / poetry

ירושלים של זהב

Posted on November 25, 2010 by Joel D.

Traipsing on the Tayelet I peered a curious & precious treasure. It caught, as queer contrivances often do, my one open eye. The other eye of course closed for causes inconceivable, Yet yearning as I do to quench my quizzical conquests I came upon it. Little & late was I for it was lost & Continue Reading »

וישב, vayeshev

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Avi Strausberg

in this week’s parsha, וישב, our attention focuses on yaakov’s slew of sons .  it seems there is something about yosef, the 11th son, whose very name’s is rooted in the word to add (אסף), that intensifies the experiences and emotions of those around him.  with yosef, you seem to either love him or hate Continue Reading »

וישלח, vayishlah

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Avi Strausberg

if in the past two parshas, there has been a severing of relationships and distancing between the members of yitzhak’s family, this week’s parsha, וישלח, tells of their coming together.   previously, the rivalry and trickery involved in jacob’s maneuvering of the birthright and blessing from the rightful first-born esau, led to seeming devastion on both Continue Reading »

ויצא, vayetze

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Avi Strausberg

in this week’s parsha, ויצא (vayetze), jacob sets out to bethuel, the house of his mother’s father, to find himself a wife, and perhaps some countless offspring in the progress.  he succeeds in landing himself not one, but count them, two wives:  leah, the unloved, and rachel, the loved.  jacob favors rachel to such an Continue Reading »

תולדות, toledot

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Avi Strausberg

in last week’s parsha, rebecca turns to God to explain the incredible pains she is experiencing in her pregrancy.  she is told that she is carrying two people, two nations within her stomach – these two new nations will be realized through the twin birth of jacob and esau.  during the pregnancy, ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה, the Continue Reading »

When Tomorrow Comes

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Spirit Wolf

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” — Sir Hillel the Great (or just Hillel, as he’s commonly known 🙂 ) ————————- “When Tomorrow Comes” When tomorrow comes, Let it be for good. No more hiding from Continue Reading »

True Righteousness

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Spirit Wolf

When once asked by a potential convert to explain the essence of Torah in a mere heartbeat, Hillel recited these famous words: “What is hateful to you do not do unto others. That is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary. Now go and study.” We would do well to remember this today: “True Righteousness” Continue Reading »

2:24 בראשית by Joel Dinin

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Eryn

2:24 בראשית ’על–כן, יעזב–איש, את–אביו, ואת–אמו; ודבק באשתו, והיו לבשר אחד’ “For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and he will cling to his wife and they will be for one flesh.” How does one acquire a friend? Two boys may enjoy playing sports together. The basketball court becomes their sacred place. With each dribble they speak out Continue Reading »

Ha, Breath of Life by Joel Dinin

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Eryn

2:7 בראשית וייצר יקוק אלקים את–האדם עפר מן–האדמה, ויפח באפיו, נשמת חיים; ויהי האדם, לנפש חיה “God, Lord, formed man, Dust from the earth. He Exhaled into his nose, living breath. Thus for man was a living soul.” Ha, my neshama breathes. Should it be any surprise the soul of pure music emanates from your Continue Reading »

So So Very Pretentious by Bogomolny

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David Bogomolny

No word limit But words limit so so Can the Torah contain unlimited Truth relevant to limitless peoples Though time limits people so so Words become irrelevant As truth becomes