These and Those

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

Archive: July 2020

Mindfulness as a Conflict Resolution Resource – creating openness for hearing, and offering, conflicting opinions

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Rebecca Schisler

This article was written by Rebecca Schisler (Spiritual Retreat ’11, ’14, Year ’19-’20/Arts and Culture Fellow ’20). “In the middle of it all, I asked him if we could just take a ten-minute break”.  Over the last several months, I have had the privilege of working with PCJE on a new initiative to integrate mindfulness Continue Reading »

Pardes 1985-1986 holds Zoom reunion

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Brian and Jody Blum

This reflection was written by Brian and Jody Blum. (Photo credit: Debbie Zimelman) Brian Blum is a technology and business journalist. His book TOTALED: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup that Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the World, is available on Amazon and other online booksellers. brianblum.com Jody Blum, M.S.W. is a geriatric Continue Reading »

Goodbyes and Hello to What Comes Next!

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Tamy Jacobs

We had a heatwave here in Jerusalem a little over a week ago. One day, I decided to go and sit under a shady tree, three little schoolboys joined me, tzitzit flying as they danced around on the grass. Rolling around, laughing.  Not a care in the world.        Remember that feeling?            Not Continue Reading »

Pardes: A Place Where Boundaries Fall Away

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Joseph Blumberg

This article was written by year program student Joe Blumberg (Summer ’18, Year ’19-’20). As an aspiring Jewish educator, my time at Pardes was everything I could have asked for. I learned how to read a page of Gemara, I met brilliant teachers and role models, and I continued to deeply explore my own Jewish Continue Reading »

Closing Circle Remarks from Yehudit Reishtein

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Yehudit Reishtein

These Closing Circle remarks were delivered by Yehudit Reishtein (Summer 19, Year ’19-’20, Community Education) Last August, one of the first things that jumped out at me when I arrived at Pardes was a feeling of being the statistical outlier. At Opening Circle, just about everyone in the room—students and teachers alike—was younger than me. Continue Reading »

Closing Circle Remarks from Lara Rodin

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Lara Rodin

This was delivered at the 2020/5780 closing circle, by Lara Rodin (PCJE ’18-’20). אָדָם צָרִיךְ לְהַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ הֲנָאָה מִמֶּנּוּ A person must be grateful to a place in which they derived benefit (Breishit Rabbah 79:6) I have derived much benefit from my time at Pardes. I am so grateful to my peers Continue Reading »

Reflections on The Marilyn and Sigi z”l Ziering Omer Program 2020/5780

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Elaine Friedberg

This reflection was written by Elaine Friedberg, Pardes Community Education Participant. My husband and I have been attending Pardes Community Education (CE) classes for about eight years.   We find the classes extremely stimulating and appreciate that Pardes courses allow us to choose from a wide variety of subjects including Halacha, Tanakh, Jewish History, Parsha Continue Reading »

The Mirrors and Windows of the Beit Midrash: Encountering Many Faces

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Rebecca Swartz

Rebecca Swartz traveled to Jerusalem for the first time in twenty years to participate in the Pardes Winter Learning Intensive. In a week dedicated to exploring Identity through Jewish texts, Rebecca uncovered the power of seeing her full self. What did I expect to discover during my time at Pardes for the Winter Intensive? While Continue Reading »

Pardes Take 5 – Rebecca Schisler

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Rebecca Schisler

Rebecca Schisler is a Pardes Year Program Student and the Arts and Culture Fellow. She reflects on what brought her to study this year at Pardes. She delivered this “Take 5” on Thursday, February 20. Pardes has been given permission to publish it. I was invited to speak to kick off recruitment week, which got Continue Reading »

Modern Israel Seminar Tiyul Reflection

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Amanda Avnery

 This blog post was written by Amanda Avnery (Year program ’20) The generation that drank the routine of exile and subjugation more than any generation before it…the generation that its entire existence is to be a bridge from the destruction and exile to a life of freedom and independence…” (Katznelson, Davar Newspaper, 1934). This quote Continue Reading »