Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on March 21, 2013 by Joseph Shamash
In last week’s Parsha, the first 5 Chapters of the book of Vayikra described the variety of sacrificial practices that were addressed to the Children of Israel (Burnt, Flour, Peace, Sin and Guilt Offerings). This week, in parshat Tzav we continue with more details and regulations that are directed to the priests, namely Aaron and Continue Reading »
Posted on March 19, 2013 by Leah Kahn
Leah Kahn is a Campus Professional Fellow within The Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution, a current student within the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators and former Director of Engagement, University of Chicago Hillel from 2005-2011. I know from firsthand experience that Hillel professionals are very busy managing multiple projects at once and don’t Continue Reading »
Posted on March 11, 2013 by David Bogomolny
I discovered the following text during an Ayeka session, and found it very challenging… then, in spiritual havruta, I fought with myself to think about this with an open mind, and I’d like to share my subsequent thoughts further below. אור ישראל, הרבי מסאלאנט Ohr Yisrael, Rav Yisrael of Salant מהו מהות של יראת שמים? “What is Continue Reading »
Posted on March 6, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: I am presently having an odd experience of disconnect. The premise is this: Bad things keep happening to me. In the grand scheme of life, they are not terrible things: no death, no serious illness, no natural disasters. But sometimes the little things seem even more powerful, especially in a world of Continue Reading »
Posted on February 26, 2013 by Laura Marder
It has been a little over a month since my stem cell donation with Gift of Life. During my donation and this past month I have had a really hard time showing and even personally feeling my emotions. It is like I put up a block. Some of you have seen me those few times Continue Reading »
Posted on February 24, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: Sometimes, a simple touch can make all the difference. In the Jewish world, some girls don’t touch boys. Some girls touch some boys. Some girls touch only one boy, and everyone hugs their mother. As a part of this world, I have become especially attuned to the presence and absence of human Continue Reading »
Posted on February 21, 2013 by Gabby Goodman
Yesterday at Pardes, during the Jewish Day of Constructive Conflict, after practicing three skills for constructive conflict in the Beit Midrash — deep listening, asking opening questions, and mirroring — we moved into small groups to see what would happen with these skills when we applied them to a live conversation, over a delicious lunch, Continue Reading »
Posted on February 13, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: I was in the middle of writing another post, but this one needed to come out first. I spent all day hiding these words inside – please read them now and know. As many of you know, there was a shooting yesterday in College Park, MD. It was a small shooting. Only Continue Reading »
Posted on February 13, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Daniel Shibley (Fellows ’12) made Aliyah last year, and he’s just received his “tzav rishon” from the IDF… See below: B’hatzlacha, Daniel! To any Star Trek fans who might be reading, there was no alien encounter. Instead, the title refers to an important envelop that I received from the IDF, my “tzav rishon” (roughly: first order). Continue Reading »
Posted on February 7, 2013 by Leah Kahn
In last week’s Parsha, Yitro, we left B’nei Yisrael at Mt. Sinai, having just received the Ten Commandments directly from the mouth of God. Most would agree that they are reasonable commandments, which aim to help this newly freed people maintain order and positive values as a newly minted nation. Switching gears immediately from the Continue Reading »
