These and Those

Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

Archive: February 2013

[Alumni Guest Post] Tricky Number Ten

Posted on February 6, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rachel Bikofsky (Summer ’12) wrote a reflection on last week’s Parshat Hashavuah (Parshat Yitro). We could all stand to take this lesson from her book: As parshiot go, this past week’s–Yitro–was a Big One.  Amid tremendous spectacle at Mt. Sinai, Hashem revealed to the Israelites the Ten Commandments.  Although the rest of the Torah would not be Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Tremping, Tramping, and Hitchhiking

Posted on February 5, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

From Daniel Shibley’s (Fellows ’12) blog: Whichever name you ascribe to it, or how you pronounce it, catching a ride with a total stranger remains one of my favorite aspects of living in Israel. Likely born out of a larger sense of family and the practical reality that not every person owns a motor vehicle, Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] An Unforgettable Evening by Dan Yagudin

Posted on February 2, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

First posted on Dan Yagudin’s (Year ’10) Facebook page Aly Raisman and I at an IDF fundraising event in Baltimore a month ago, on what was one of the most unforgettable evenings of my life “How the hell did I get myself into this situation?” was the first thought I had when I was sitting Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Picking Our Battles

Posted on February 1, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Posted by Ben Barer (Fellows ’12): When you stop to consider the problems plaguing our world (now, as in any other time in history), it can be daunting to the point of being immobilizing. How can I possibly choose, based on such imperfect knowledge, where to most effectively apply myself, and, even if I do, Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Yitro 5773: Yitro’s Advice

Posted on January 31, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

This week, Neima Novetsky discusses Parashat Yitro in Yitro’s Advice. Yitro 5773 Shabbat shalom!

[Alumni Guest Post] Thank God I’m a Work in Progress: A Reflection on Teshuvah

Posted on January 29, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

From Alissa Thomas’ (Spring ’11) S Blog: Teshuvah is a lifelong work in progress. Every year during Elul and the Yamim Noraim, I find myself digging deep into the process of teshuvah. I think to myself that I would love to feel such an intense spiritual desire toward growth and tikkun year-round. But each year after the chagim pass and I get more entrenched Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Best of Brunch in Jerusalem

Posted on January 25, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Anna Melman Bronstein (Year ’05, Fellows ’06) is behind the new FOODIST JERUSALEM blog, and for those of you looking for a good brunch here in the Holy City, she’s got the low down: The People Have Spoken: Best of Brunch in Jerusalem One of my new favorite pastimes is to poll my Facebook friends Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Focus on Rochel Czopnik

Posted on January 24, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rochel Joanna Czopnik (Year ’05, PEP ’07) shares the story of how she ended up back in Poland after graduating from the Pardes Educators Program (PEP): After graduating from PEP, I was scared and quite anxious about my first job. I moved to Baltimore and for the first time was to live in the US Continue Reading »

[Pardes From Jerusalem Podcast] Beshallach 5773: The Manna

Posted on January 24, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

This week, Rabbi Michael Hattin discusses Parashat Beshallach in The Manna Beshallach 5773 Shabbat shalom!

[Alumni Guest Post] With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Posted on January 23, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Ben Barer (Fellows ’12) wrote a Torah reflection about Power and Responsibility yesterday, in light of the Israeli elections: While Spider-Man seems capable of handling the (great) power he is given, oftentimes we seem to fail most when power is in our hands. On this day, when democratic elections for the 19th Knesset of the Continue Reading »