These and Those

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

Archive: March 2011

[PEP Student] Consumed by the Fire?

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, This past week’s parsha includes one of the few narratives in the book of Vayikra, namely the divinely ordained death of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, upon presenting their voluntary fire offering. But the telling of the acts of Nadav and Avihu and their subsequent deaths are brief and perplexing. We do not Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] The Commanded and the Volunteer

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Hard as it is to believe, yesterday marked the end of my first week of student-teaching in New York. The high school I’m interning at is really an unbelievable place and I’m learning a lot– not only about teaching and learning, but what kinds of things I can buy in Columbus Circle and Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Heed the Call

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I must tell you that it feels a little strange to write this email to you from the other side of the ocean. Thank God, I arrived safe and sound in New York on Wednesday (even though I had to wait for almost an hour in the INTERNATIONAL customs line!) But, once I Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Closing Time

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, As some of you may know, this was my last Shabbat in Israel before – what I like to call – my “North American Tour”. I’ll be traveling to New York this Tuesday, to student-teach in a day school in Manhattan and hopefully squeeze in some interviews for teaching positions next year in Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] To perfect the world under the Sovereignt​y of the Almighty

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Last week’s parsha, Parshat Vayakhel, continues to describe the construction of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) which the Israelites built in the desert and would serve later as the prototype for the Temple in King Solomon’s reign. But I’d like to focus on a different aspect of the parsha, namely Shabbat. Before the Torah goes Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Yom Iyun Shel Chesed 2011

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, What a week of learning, both inside and outside the walls of Pardes! A particular highlight for me was picking oranges for an organization called Leket Israel, which provides for Israeli children who are hungry and/or do not received proper nutrition. This volunteering project was organized by Pardes students in loving memory of Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Parshat Tetzaveh: Spiritual Accessorie​s

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I hope this email finds you well. Last week was quite the jam-packed, rainy and nearly sleepless week! My dad was visiting last week so we were busy with Torah study at Pardes, touring the country, shopping (of course) and visiting with family and friends. We had a great time!! But like my Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] The Lesson of the Tabernacle

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Last week was quite a whirlwind: getting back on track with classes at Pardes, exploring plans for next year and hosting my dad who is visiting from Toronto for the next 10 days or so…not to mention the snowy blizzards and political storms going on around the world! I can honestly say that Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Rehabilitate the Trauma

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I hope you are all well and had a good week. This past week was my first back at Pardes after the semester break, so it has been a bit of an adjustment: new classes, new people and new schedules. Having said all that, I’m very excited to be back in the Bet Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Revelation @ Mt. Sinai

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I hope you are well. This past week has been quite a busy one and at times, a difficult one for me. My cousin’s father, Eli Bellaiche z”l, passed away last week after a trying battle with cancer. He was an incredibly sweet and loving husband, father and grandfather and although we didn’t Continue Reading »