Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
“Water Wears Away Stone”: The (Soft) Power of Torah — Reflections after a year of learning at Pardes
Posted on June 20, 2017 by Mira Niculescu
Posted on June 5, 2017 by Leah Beck
Four nights ago, after a delicious dinner with some old friends, new friends, and people I had just met, I walked to school. It was already close to 23:30, and while I am often in the Beit Midrash at Pardes late to study on my own, never before had I seen my school so packed Continue Reading »
Posted on June 4, 2017 by Celeste Aronoff
This article was originally published in The Times of Israel. I planned to go to Israel for two months. I ended up staying for three years. Because Israel can do that to you so easily. She flirts with you a little, seduces you a little, and before you know it, you’re in love with Israel Continue Reading »
Posted on May 22, 2017 by Miriam Lorie
This blog was originally published on Miriammuses.com This is a post about the feeling of falling behind in life. But I should also acknowledge falling behind with this blog. I’m going to blame Pesach (Passover), as any Jewish homemaker or Jewish educator probably would. Here’s a bit of a description. Scroll down for the actual Continue Reading »
Posted on May 11, 2017 by Rachel Dingman
I looked back on a blog post I wrote in 2014–my first summer here at Pardes. The blog post was titled “I’ve been saying watermelon a lot”. This phrase comes from an amazing Shabbat meal I had at Yaffa Epstein’s house. Everyone started singing and I looked around filled with confusion. Yaffa said “Sing along, Continue Reading »
Posted on April 28, 2017 by Yaffa Epstein
This article originally appeared in The Times of Israel. Click here for the original post As we approach Yom Ha’atzmaut, my thoughts return repeatedly to a different Yom Ha’atzmaut two years ago. It was on that day when, with hope in my heart and tears in my eyes, I made the difficult decision to take Continue Reading »
Posted on April 27, 2017 by Rachel Dingman
Life can only be perfected through the affording of a breathing space from the bustle of everyday life. The individual shakes himself free from ordinary weekday life at short and regular intervals – on every Sabbath… What the Sabbath achieves regarding the individual, the Shemitah achieves with regard to the nation as a whole. – Continue Reading »
Posted on February 28, 2017 by Elana Zelony
I am a rabbi in Dallas, and I teach a Talmud class. Some of my students were struggling to relate to the text. They were understanding the words, but not how to apply the lessons in today’s context. One of them said, “Rabbi, we need helping making the text relevant.” “Hmm,” I thought to myself. Continue Reading »
Posted on February 28, 2017 by Carrie Watkins
I AM DIVERSIFYING THE MEANING OF HOME A Seven Word Story: I am diversifying the meaning of home. I feel at home In this homesickness, finding Comfort in longing I travel onwards Metaphor and love guiding Water after rain I have diversified the meaning of home In the taste of kedem grape juice on shabbat Continue Reading »
Posted on February 27, 2017 by Salom.com
The following is a translation of the news article that appeared in Salom, the Turkish Jewish newspaper. Pardes visited Istanbul. Ten young people from the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, based in Jerusalem, has brought a brand new and different energy to the Jewish community last week in accompaniment of Dr. Rabbi Levi Cooper, their teacher. Continue Reading »
Posted on February 23, 2017 by Linda Adler Hurwitz
by Linda Adler Hurwitz, Baltimore, MD In July 2016, I took five days out of my life to go back to school. I took an intensive dive back into Jewish texts, at Pardes’s Executive Learning Seminar, in anticipation of beginning an important communal leadership role. I felt the need to prepare myself both mentally and Continue Reading »
