These and Those

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

Archive: October 2013

The Day my Little Brother Moved to Israel

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

(From my blog): The Day my Little Brother Moved to Israel …was last Tuesday.  Since then, I have been asked a certain two questions more times than I can count: How do your parents feel about all three of you being in Israel? (it’s true – the Theological Threesome of Eli, Naomi and Uri Bilmes Continue Reading »

Be the String: A D’var Torah on Parshat Noach

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

(From the Pardes Opening Shabbaton): When I was a junior in college, I had to take a semester off from school. The reason? Stomach problems. I felt sick all of the time, I was gradually losing weight, and had lost all hope that the symptoms would ever abate. For an over-achiever like me, the decision Continue Reading »

The Copyist

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

 From my blog: The Copyist   People tell me that I am brave. People tell me that what I do is scarier than a job interview or public speaking. It’s more frightening than singing karaoke in front of 15 Julliard students. It’s more terror-inducing than a claustrophobic getting into an elevator with a 360-pound football player Continue Reading »

You’re not 22 – Let’s Hang Out!

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Sometimes, hanging out with people my own age is just too hard. And I think I’ve figured out why: The stakes are just too high. With people my own age, there is potential for deep friendship, romance, and a whole lot of fun; there is also potential for a whole lot of Continue Reading »

Let’s Relate

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: This week was my first full week of class at Pardes, leaving me with less of some things and more of others. More: Learning. Torah. Prayer. Introductions. Re-acquaintances. Texts. Less: Free Time. Energy. Mental Focus. If you haven’t heard from me recently, I’m truly sorry about that. Adjusting to my new schedule will hopefully Continue Reading »

Just – Can’t – Say it…Right

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Sometimes my Mind Thinks in Poetry Sometimes my mind thinks in poetry, but it’s a halting poem because I’m feeling and I’m feeling and I can’t put the right words to the feelings.

Going Back East

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: It was only 31 hours without sleep. Not so bad, really. It began at 6:35 am on Tuesday, with a train ride from Hartford to Newark. It continued with three hours of waiting at Newark Liberty airport, most of which occurred in an oddly deserted section of the terminal. ELAL flight 028 Continue Reading »

I’m Totally Semi-Qualified to Handle That!

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Not much has happened this summer. Wait, let me amend that statement: Not much has happened this summer in the personal life of Naomi Bilmes. A good deal, in fact, has happened in the world. There’s the Syrian uprising, the confessions and apologies of New York politicians, the Pope’s near-sainthood, and Egypt’s Continue Reading »

A Look at Teshuva Through Parshat Ki Tetzeh

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: In preparation for Elul, returning to Israel, and because Torah is awesome, I presented this d’var Torah at my synagogue tonight during seudat shlishit. I thought some of you might enjoy reading it. Shabbat Ki Tetzeh Seudat Shlishit D’var Torah By Naomi Bilmes Shabbat Shalom. This week’s parsha, Ki Tetzeh, is full Continue Reading »

The Dream (or Nightmare) Inside of us all

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Last week, I had a very odd dream. As the dream wound to a close, I remember thinking, I should write a blog post about this. When I woke up, I thought that I had a great blog post to write…then remembered that the blog-worthy events had occurred only in a dream. Continue Reading »