Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on October 25, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
(Read it on my blog) A Haredi, a kibbutznik, and a Muslim walk into a bar. (beat) Mashiach comes!! Well, I don’t know what would actually happen; I never actually saw the three of them in the same room at the same time. And now for some context: This Tuesday, I went on a tiyul with Continue Reading »
Posted on September 20, 2013 by David Bogomolny
When Jessica Baverman recently wrote about her developing relationship to the Kotel, I was reminded of some of my thoughts about and feelings towards it. I remember reading Avi Spodek’s post last spring, appreciating his struggle, and agreeing with him that “the incidents at the Kotel these past few months have dominated the atmosphere” at 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 May 20, 2013 by Kayla Higgins
Our bus returned to Jerusalem an hour before Shabbat candle-lighting time. I quickly biked home to shower and light the candles before heading out to my friend’s place for dinner. It was only at twilight, while walking along the Rakevet (the old railroad tracks that cut across the south Jerusalem) and reading from a commentary Continue Reading »
Posted on April 28, 2013 by David Bogomolny
I shared the following words at Pardes, wishing my friend Yevgenia and her family chizuk (encouragement, support) and Hashem’s rachamim (mercy). She was born with a congenital heart defect, which has always impacted the quality of her life. Last Sunday, a week ago, I was not entirely surprised to learn that she had been hospitalized. Yevgenia inspires me Continue Reading »
Posted on April 22, 2013 by Liviah Landau
April 15th, 2013 It’s Erev Yom HaAtzma’ut and just a few days ago I had my first meeting with Nefesh b’Nefesh, an agency that works for North American Jews intending on immigrating to Israel. My application is in, and a few more papers are needed, but the decision has been made. I am making Aliyah Continue Reading »
Posted on April 11, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen
From my blog: When you are praying the words “Shema Yisrael”, “Listen Israel”, but instead you hear the sound of people yelling at you. When there are more photographers and journalists than people praying. After months of hesitation and apprehension I visit the kotel for Rosh Chodesh. I go to finally see what it is like to be Continue Reading »
Posted on March 28, 2013 by Ari Abelman
From my blog: I’d like to use this post to respond to a sentiment that I have frequently heard in recent years among Israelis with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The sentiment goes something like this: “I’m in favor of peace with the Palestinians, including a two-state solution in which the Palestinians would have a Continue Reading »
Posted on March 23, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Alum Daniel Shibley (Yr. ’11, Fellows ’12) writes about his official beginning of being drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in the context of Parshat Tzav: With great power comes great responsibility. Now that the Tabernacle has been completed and we have received the instructions on how to make the appropriate offerings, the next piece Continue Reading »
Posted on March 13, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert
This Rosh Hodesh was my second time attending Rosh Hodesh davenning at WoW. Last month, I was glad to check it out and feel like I was part of something important but between the cameras and security, I struggled to feel like I was davenning. This Rosh Hodesh, two amazing things happened. 1) I got Continue Reading »
