Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on January 17, 2016 by David Wallach
While yesterday, we spent much of our time remembering what was, today we really spent time getting to know the Jewish community in all its current glory. We had a chance to see many important synagogues in the Turkish Jewish community. We were blessed with the opportunity to have an audience with the Chief Rabbi Continue Reading »
Posted on November 13, 2015 by David Wallach
Do you remember a moment that changed your entire life? I’m sure you remember the event, but do you remember the exact moment that everything changed? Our Parsha this week, Toldot, could very well be an episode of a soap opera. It has drama, deception, heartbreak, family – everything needed to pull you in so Continue Reading »
Posted on October 30, 2015 by David Wallach
I hate Daylight Saving Time! I don’t like changing the clock. I don’t understand why we do it. I spend the next day confused and angry. Is it 1:00? Is it 2:00? It’s just unnecessarily confusing. I wish it never happened! “But David,” you might be saying to yourself, “this parsha doesn’t have anything to Continue Reading »
Posted on June 11, 2015 by David Wallach
לעילוי נשמת יהושע מנחם בן משה ז״ל. In memory of Menachem Wallach z”l. Imagine, for a moment. You’ve been travelling from Egypt, through the desert, eyes always looking toward Cana’an, the Promised Land. You’ve seen the Sea of Reeds split before your eyes, you’ve seen Manna fall from the sky to sustain you. And now, finally, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 12, 2014 by David Wallach
Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. בראשית ל”ז:י”ט-כ’ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו הִנֵּה בַּעַל הַחֲלֹמוֹת הַלָּזֶה בָּא. וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנַהַרְגֵהוּ וְנַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בְּאַחַד הַבֹּרוֹת וְאָמַרְנוּ חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ וְנִרְאֶה מַה-יִּהְיוּ חֲלֹמֹתָיו. They said to one another, “here comes the dreamer! Let’s kill him and throw him into Continue Reading »
Posted on December 5, 2014 by David Wallach
Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. “וַיָּקָם בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא, וַיִּקַּח אֶת-שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו וְאֶת-שְׁתֵּי שִׁפְחֹתָיו, וְאֶת-אַחַד עָשָׂר, יְלָדָיו; וַיַּעֲבֹר, אֵת מַעֲבַר יַבֹּק”. (בראשית ל”ב:כ”ג) “In the middle of the night he got up, and took his two wives, his two handmaids, and his eleven sons, and Continue Reading »
Posted on October 24, 2014 by David Wallach
Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. אֵלֶּה, תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ–נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה, בְּדֹרֹתָיו: אֶת-הָאֱלֹהִים, הִתְהַלֶּךְ-נֹחַ (בְּרֵאשִׁית ו:ט) These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and whole-hearted; Noah walked with God. (Gen. 6:9) Our parshah opens up with Continue Reading »
Posted on September 17, 2014 by David Wallach
This Shabbat in synagogue (or at the shabbaton, woot!), we will read the joint parshiot of Nitzavim and Va’Yelech. The Jewish calender has it that Parshat Nitzavim always falls out before Rosh Hashana. A coincidence like this causes us, the readers of the Torah, to ask, “so nu? What’s the connection? Why must this parsha always fall out before Continue Reading »
