These and Those

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

Archive: May 2013

Connections

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Here are the words I shared in the Beit Midrash today – Today, at this time of leave-taking, I want to talk about connections, unexpected connections. First, a little background: This week I had two divrei Torah to compose, one for DLK’s Dvar Torah workshop and one for today. The first one was for Parashat Continue Reading »

Holy Arithmetic

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

One An outlander arrives in J-town. Not my first time and G!d-willing, not my last. In a newish role: student, not teacher! The book is open. Minus one Disequilibrium: distance from home and life partner, Jitters, does anyone understand who I am? Do I understand who I am In this novel circumstance?

Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5773 at the Kotel

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

I went to the Kotel on Rosh Chodesh Sivan expecting to pray, and I did. I was surprised that I could focus on prayer in the volatile atmosphere; the hullabaloo made me concentrate even harder than usual. “Ozi v’zimrat Yah” never had greater meaning for me than it did on Friday morning as I stood Continue Reading »

Reflections on “Poems on a Journey’s End” and “B’reishit”

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

This year, while learning in the Pardes Year Program, I also attended the Shalom Hartman Institute Rabbinic Student Seminar. I learned weekly on Wednesday evenings with 20 + rabbinic students from N. and S. America and Europe under the guidance of Melila Hellner-Eshed and Yossi Klein HaLevi. My sister Pardesnik and ALEPH rabbinic program student, Continue Reading »

I’m in…

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Don’t count me out. I’m not young. In fact, I am rightfully considered to be among the elders of our community. But I didn’t grow up in yeshivish Judaism, and my knowledge, is how shall we say… Limited by the circumstances of my origin. I’m acutely aware of it here, in Jerusalem, at Pardes. Nonetheless, Continue Reading »

Desert Sand

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

I am the desert sand: Hot sand of mid-day, Cold sand of clear night. Feet press into me, And speak a language I understand. I feel the joy of dancing, the resolute march of armies, The fluttering of small children at play. Always, always footprints press Then blow away. Each grain of my sand seeds Continue Reading »

[Creative Davening] Shacharit of Healing by Laurie Franklin

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Here is the text of today’s Creative Davening at Pardes: In this week’s parsha, we build and furnish the Mishkan and attire the kohanim. When the work is complete, the Holy Presence comes to dwell among the people. Today, in our Shacharit of Healing, we build our own Mishkan of hope and invite the Presence Continue Reading »

Gemara and roses

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

This wound This wound. Hurts. I look but can’t find it Hiding under layers of scar. Will it hurt more to hold it open to light? I blow on it. Blow away dust. Reveal the bones. Step through the field; take the unclean road. For the sake of dignity, I sing in the dark and Continue Reading »

Social Justice class heads South

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Last semester, Meesh Hammer-Kossoy’s Social Justice class made a visit to Lakiya, a recognized Bedouin village, and Sderot, a city well known for its 12-year history as a target for projectile strikes from Gaza. In Lakiya, we visited Sidreh-Lakiya Negev Weaving, a nonprofit that advocates for Bedouin women and their families by providing economic development Continue Reading »

Tu B’Shvat with the Levites

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

Tu Bshvat Today, I said I want to be a Redwood. I want to be big, too big to ignore, A wonder, Almost immortal. I want hugs, lots of them, ya know like when people hold hands to circle your trunk. My fellow Levites got it. They surrounded me with hugs. Two hours later, Psalms Continue Reading »