These and Those

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

Archive: January 2016

Turkey 2016: Learning to Teach

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Johanna Press

On Friday we visited Ulus Jewish School in Ortakoy, where we presented interactive educational programs about Tu B’Shevat for elementary- and high-school students. Since I am a Torah lishma student and not part of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators, I felt a bit nervous about stepping outside of my comfort zone and teaching in Continue Reading »

Loving the Stranger: Particularism vs. Universalism

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Johanna Press

In my Pardes Social Justice class, we recently discussed the complicated status of non-Jews in our community. Texts throughout Jewish history – from Tanakh through modern responsa – present conflicting views regarding non-Jews; in one place, we are instructed to love the stranger and in another, the destruction of idolatrous non-Jews is enthusiastically called for. Continue Reading »