Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 4, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
One quote from my Rav Kook book this week that I really liked is, “What is the essence of prophecy? This unique gift is the ability to look at God’s works and recognize in them His greatness.” I’m sure there is more to being a prophet then just that, but I like to think that with practice Continue Reading »
Posted on February 4, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
At Pardes, Shabbat is the topic of many discussions and the focus of a lot of study. Last semester I took Halakah (Jewish Law) and the class focused on Shabbat. I have written about Shabbat on the blog in the past as well. I have been trying to create a Shabbat “space.” One thing I’ve Continue Reading »
Posted on January 30, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
Tovah Leah, my teacher for Personalizing Prayer, and Relationships class, cites Rav Kook nearly everyday! I finally realized that I loved almost every quote that she brought from him. So last week I bought a book that compiles Rav Kook’s thoughts on the Parshiot, the weekly Torah portions. Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the Continue Reading »
Posted on January 22, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
I had ulpan today at Pardes for the educators. We have Hebrew classes for the next four weeks before we go for our student teaching. I am really motivated! I want to be fluent in Hebrew so much!!!!!!!!!! These are the words I learned today: להפליץ – to fart להפציץ – to bomb לנצל – Continue Reading »
Posted on January 22, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
Over the semester break I went to the Arava, or Eilat mountains in southern Israel with a small group from Pardes. We stayed at Kibbutz Keturah and we had an amazing time! Even some of the new students from the spring semester joined us, so it was great to meet them! Yishai hiking in his Continue Reading »
Posted on January 7, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
All week I had been excited to spend my Shabbat in the “Gush” with two of my teachers. They always have students in their homes for Shabbat, and the anticipation had been building since I heard about other students wonderful experiences. We (Hannah, Yishai, and Amber) left Jerusalem around 1:30, which was way too early, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 31, 2011 by Andrea Wiese
Over Hanukkah break from Pardes, I had the opportunity to help deliver some much needed winter thermal shirts and gloves to soldiers in the south on the border of Sinai. I went with an organization called Standing Together (http://www.stogether.org/) which buys and delivers items to soldiers in the IDF that the government can’t afford. They Continue Reading »
Posted on December 22, 2011 by Andrea Wiese
Posted on December 22, 2011 by Andrea Wiese
When I made aliyah a year ago, I knew that I was doing so on the grounds that it would be challenging, not only financially or emotionally, but because Israel is difficult. There is nothing easy about Israel, and maybe that is where her true beauty comes from. Pardes set up a trip for Continue Reading »
Posted on December 6, 2011 by Andrea Wiese
This song was written and performed by Sam Rotenberg, a fellow student and friend, at Pardes! We were having a party in Gemera (Talmud) to celebrate finishing a long, complex, and difficult section. Sam wrote this song in honor of “the end”. The Gemera we’re learning is about Lost Objects, so in the song you’ll Continue Reading »
