These and Those

Blogs posts and reflections from students and alumni
studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Have a story or reflection to share? Email us: info@pardes.org.il

Disagreeing Better for the Sake of Heaven and Earth: Truth, Integrity, and Relational Disagreement

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Louis Polisson

By Rabbi Louis Polisson – Mahloket Matters Rabbinical Assembly 2022 Fellow Learn more about the Mahloket Matters Fellowship Congregation Or Atid of Wayland, MA Rosh Ha-Shanah Day 2 5783 September 27, 2022 / 2nd of Tishrei, 5783 During my second year of rabbinical school, I spent a year living in Jerusalem. One of my most Continue Reading »

Living Torah

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Carole Zawatsky

– Carole Zawatsky, Pardes Elul 2022 and Winter Learning Seminar 2017 Alumna, CEO of the Tree of Life, Inc. I have learned over time, and with the experiences that life has dealt me, that sometimes hitting the pause button is critical to our spiritual, and emotional growth. After a tough year and a decades long Continue Reading »

Student Reflection: Grace Sudry—Pardes Learning Seminar Winter 2023

Posted on February 13, 2023 by Grace Sudry

Grace Sudry Winter 2023 PLS Participant I recently made Aliyah and wanted to set aside time during my Israel journey for some formal Jewish studies. A close friend from NYC had talked about her experience studying at Pardes years ago while she was on a career break, so when this same friend shared the information Continue Reading »

Overcoming Yad Mitzrayim and Recognizing the Power of Hashem

Posted on February 4, 2023 by Carole Daman

My mother, Rose, was a very warm, vivacious woman who was active in Jewish communal affairs into her 90’s. For many years she co-chaired the UJA-Federation Super Sunday campaign in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. She was also active in her synagogue, B’nai Brith Women (later called “Jewish Women International”) and the Riverdale Jewish Continue Reading »

Student Reflection: Jonathon Adler – Pardes Learning Seminar Winter 2023

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Jonathon Adler

Jonathon Adler Winter 2023 PLS Participant On my winter vacation, I took a trip to the Holy Land. I spent an incredibly wonderful week learning at the Pardes Institute, a truly special institute of higher learning, with professors from multiple traditions within Judaism, including Orthodox rabbis who are women, which was a truly pleasant surprise. Continue Reading »

The March With My People

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Matthew Filderman

In reflection to his experiences on the Pardes Jewish Heritage Journey to Poland guided by Pardes Dean Emeritus David Bernstein. My name is Matthew Filderman. I am a proud Reform Jew from Memphis, Tennessee. I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2017 and am currently studying in The Year Program at The Pardes Institute of Jewish Continue Reading »

Student Reflection: Kim and Neal Holtzman—Pardes Learning Seminar Winter 2023

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Kim and Neal Holtzman

Kim and Neal Holtzman Winter 2023 PLS Participants Learning at Pardes has been on our bucket list for many years. We have a very dear friend who studied at Pardes for two years and spoke often and fondly of the learning and knowledge she had acquired there. We had never taken the opportunity for any Continue Reading »

Student Reflection: Peter Stein—Pardes Learning Seminar Winter 2023

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Rabbi Peter Stein

Rabbi Peter W. Stein Winter 2023 PLS Participant I serve as the senior rabbi of Temple B’rith Kodesh in Rochester, NY. At the end of December, I came to Israel to begin a two month sabbatical. I was blessed to spend the first week of my time here as a participant in the intensive Pardes Continue Reading »

Rocks of Treblinka

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Yitzi Gittelsohn

In reflection to his experiences on the Pardes Jewish Heritage Journey to Poland guided by Pardes Dean Emeritus David Bernstein. Day 2 – Rocks of Treblinka The rocks were really heavy: They must have been really heavy to move, All those rocks, Together, For the monument. The lives must have been even heavier, They must Continue Reading »

Dvar Torah for Dr. Harlan Daman’s Yahrzeit

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Carole Daman

Today is the 16th Yahrzeit of my wonderful husband, Dr. Harlan Daman, Tsvi Hirsh ben Dovid Aryeh. He died during the week after Simchat Torah so the last Torah portion he heard was the first account of Creation. He did not get to hear the rest of Parshat Bereshit. R. Nachman Cohen has observed that Continue Reading »