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
Women’s Role in Judaism: A Different Perspective On the Occasion of My Husband’s Yahrzeit
Posted on September 21, 2020 by Carole Daman
Personal Reflections: Who Am I? The Complexity of Identity in the 21st Century
Posted on July 15, 2020 by Beryl Levinger
Posted on July 6, 2020 by Brian and Jody Blum
This reflection was written by Brian and Jody Blum. (Photo credit: Debbie Zimelman) Brian Blum is a technology and business journalist. His book TOTALED: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup that Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the World, is available on Amazon and other online booksellers. brianblum.com Jody Blum, M.S.W. is a geriatric Continue Reading »
Posted on June 15, 2020 by Debra Weiner-Solomont
This post was written by Debra Weiner-Solomont, MSW, Coordinator, Pardes Community Education Program. To learn more about the program please visit https://www.pardes.org.il/ce The last portion of the Torah – זאת הברכה has the verse which we recite each morning, as part of the morning brachot. It is also the first verse we teach our children Continue Reading »
Posted on June 15, 2020 by Tamy Jacobs
We had a heatwave here in Jerusalem a little over a week ago. One day, I decided to go and sit under a shady tree, three little schoolboys joined me, tzitzit flying as they danced around on the grass. Rolling around, laughing. Not a care in the world. Remember that feeling? Not Continue Reading »
Posted on June 4, 2020 by Joseph Blumberg
This article was written by year program student Joe Blumberg (Summer ’18, Year ’19-’20). As an aspiring Jewish educator, my time at Pardes was everything I could have asked for. I learned how to read a page of Gemara, I met brilliant teachers and role models, and I continued to deeply explore my own Jewish Continue Reading »
Posted on May 31, 2020 by Yehudit Reishtein
These Closing Circle remarks were delivered by Yehudit Reishtein (Summer 19, Year ’19-’20, Community Education) Last August, one of the first things that jumped out at me when I arrived at Pardes was a feeling of being the statistical outlier. At Opening Circle, just about everyone in the room—students and teachers alike—was younger than me. Continue Reading »
Posted on May 31, 2020 by Lara Rodin
This was delivered at the 2020/5780 closing circle, by Lara Rodin (PCJE ’18-’20). אָדָם צָרִיךְ לְהַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ הֲנָאָה מִמֶּנּוּ A person must be grateful to a place in which they derived benefit (Breishit Rabbah 79:6) I have derived much benefit from my time at Pardes. I am so grateful to my peers Continue Reading »
Posted on May 4, 2020 by Elaine Friedberg
This reflection was written by Elaine Friedberg, Pardes Community Education Participant. My husband and I have been attending Pardes Community Education (CE) classes for about eight years. We find the classes extremely stimulating and appreciate that Pardes courses allow us to choose from a wide variety of subjects including Halacha, Tanakh, Jewish History, Parsha Continue Reading »
Posted on February 23, 2020 by Rebecca Swartz
Rebecca Swartz traveled to Jerusalem for the first time in twenty years to participate in the Pardes Winter Learning Intensive. In a week dedicated to exploring Identity through Jewish texts, Rebecca uncovered the power of seeing her full self. What did I expect to discover during my time at Pardes for the Winter Intensive? While Continue Reading »
Posted on February 21, 2020 by Rebecca Schisler
Rebecca Schisler is a Pardes Year Program Student and the Arts and Culture Fellow. She reflects on what brought her to study this year at Pardes. She delivered this “Take 5” on Thursday, February 20. Pardes has been given permission to publish it. I was invited to speak to kick off recruitment week, which got Continue Reading »
Posted on February 13, 2020 by Amanda Avnery
This blog post was written by Amanda Avnery (Year program ’20) The generation that drank the routine of exile and subjugation more than any generation before it…the generation that its entire existence is to be a bridge from the destruction and exile to a life of freedom and independence…” (Katznelson, Davar Newspaper, 1934). This quote Continue Reading »
