These and Those

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

Archive: June 2013

15 Shekel Shawarma

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Tadea Klein

A little over a year ago, I went out for my first shawarma. I walked past the Kinyon Hadar, and turned into this vaguely sketchy open-wall joint that said “15 Shekel Shawarma” in big neon letters. Bogo, who was accompanying me, showed me what to order. When we were finished eating, he pulled out a Continue Reading »

Losing, or Fingerprints

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Tadea Klein

You fear that we will lose each other And you are right, we will We will part, promising to keep in touch, and then We will forget Real life will intrude, new friendships will form And we will move on and let go And yet, and yet… When I laugh, it will be with his Continue Reading »

On Those We Love

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Tadea Klein

My dvar Torah from the Galil Shabbaton: First of all, I would like to thank Adam Masser (Spring ’12, Year ’13), who gave me the perfect set up — and we didn’t even plan it. I also am going to talk about lashon ha-rah, specifically the consequences of it. I believe that the most telling Continue Reading »

Purim Art Piece

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Tadea Klein

Drawn for the holiday arts project.

A Question for a King’s Mother

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Tadea Klein

What did you see when you went willingly before the King, Batsheva? Did you see a melekh in his glory, A broad-shouldered warrior with a light in his eyes and a song in his mouth Or a sorrowing, grief-stricken brother, body covered in scars and empty in his heart, Rage covered only half-way by desire? Continue Reading »

Build a Temple

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Tadea Klein

We have built Temples of our bodies, dear Built them in sweat and groaning In the saliva that collects in your mouth when pushed too hard The dryness in your throat when pushed too far The burn of muscles over-used And the shaking relief when we fall, exhausted, in sprawled heaps of splayed-out limbs Only Continue Reading »

The Photograph

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Tadea Klein

There is a little girl in a photograph A fair-haired, sweet-faced thing Her arms wrapped around the neck of a man with dark, calm eyes and the inquisitive sniffing nose of a true Jew I know that this girl in her red shirt and black velvet dress, whose earliest memory is the sound of shouting, Continue Reading »

New Friendships

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Tadea Klein

Talk to me, talk to me Talk to me! Fill me up with your stories, play me your life Pour it into a tea-cup and let me drink deep I, once content in my aloneness Find myself craving the contact Of an arm across my shoulder A knee resting against my own Take interest in Continue Reading »

Lovely Women, or In Defense of Sniyut and Halter Tops

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Tadea Klein

The difference between a lovely woman and a plain one Is the way that, When dressed in her right clothes Or doing her best loved tasks, She unfurls like a rare flower Her back straight and her eyes shining And she unleashes that 100 Kilowatt smile That all women keep tucked up in the corners Continue Reading »

Shabbat Goes Out, or Weary Bride

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Tadea Klein

On a quiet soundless night a little girl with ancient eyes comes creeping into Jerusalem Shabbat is tired She drags her feet, weary of simcha and cheer Ears ringing from songs, head aching from wine, she wants only to go home, flick on the TV and zone out Not smile, nor laugh Nor sing or Continue Reading »