These and Those

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

Archive: July 2016

Coming Out Jewish

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Ma'ayan Dyer

This blog was originally posted on the author’s personal blog, Lost in Jerusalem. In the eternal words of every human being since the beginning of spoken language, life is not fair. It never has been and never will be. Not that we will ever shut up about it. Perhaps I should back-up a bit and Continue Reading »

Yom Iyun shel Chesed 2016: The Power of Supporting Choice

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Ma'ayan Dyer

When I decided to volunteer at Hillel, a non-profit organization in Jerusalem that is dedicated to helping former ultra-orthodox Jews that have decided to leave the Haredi world and assimilate into secular society, I was not entirely sure what I was getting into. Inspired by a disturbing report in a 2014 article in The New Continue Reading »

Germany 2016: What Can’t Be Destroyed

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Ma'ayan Dyer

When I decided to go to Germany with Pardes and other young Jewish North Americans this month, I did so for several reasons. For one, Germany has always been a country to cross off on my long bucket list for travel, having studied the language. For another, in all of my 30 years, even after Continue Reading »

A Complicated Love Affair

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Ma'ayan Dyer

Three weeks ago, I made aliyah. It had been a long time coming, something that I have been thinking about, dreaming of and longing for since I was first faced with saying goodbye to Israel after a year of living in Jerusalem in 2012. Back then, months before I even had to go back to Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Pieces of Home

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From Ma’ayan Dyer’s (Spring ’12, Spring ’13) blog: It has been almost a year to the date since I left Israel. I have neglected this blog almost shamefully in the months since, feeling that I don’t have the head space or energy to push it forward with updated posts and the desperately needed new look Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Falling off the Kosher Wagon

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From Ma’ayan Dyer’s (Spring ’12, Spring ’13) blog: Even before the completion of my conversion three years ago, keeping kosher seemed relatively simple and came surprisingly easy. Sure, the BLT was my favorite sandwich once upon a time, and the spectrum of the many delicious treyf Italian meats were a goyish treat that I wouldn’t Continue Reading »

Okay, so setting goals isn’t my strong suit…

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: Previously, on Lost in Jerusalem, I made the grand pronouncement that I was setting for myself no less than three goals in an attempt to be healthier, happier, and perhaps something more of a writer than a poser who talks about how nice it would be if I were a writer. If Continue Reading »

In Pain, but Numb.

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: Monday was my second Yom HaShoah in Israel. I was standing in the middle of the partition in the road on Rivkah and Pierre Koenig to get a good view of the people stopping their cars and getting out to pay their respects to the dead when the wail of the memorial Continue Reading »

Reading, Writing, Running: A Personal Challenge

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: With only a little over two months left in my second round of adventures in Jerusalem, I’ve been disappointed in myself for not keeping up my reading and writing habits as a part of my day to day life. I have been clinging to the romantic notion that living in the Holy Continue Reading »

What’s in a (Jewish) name?

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: With the tenth of February just around the corner, it’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Israel for a month already. I have big plans for my time abroad, and while I’ve mostly been happily consumed with Jewish studies at Pardes, I feel like there’s still just so much for me Continue Reading »