These and Those

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

Archive: October 2023

D’var Torah for Harlan Daman’s 16th Yahrzeit

Posted on October 12, 2023 by Carole Daman

I would like to share the D’var Torah I gave last year on the Shabbos before the yahrzeit of my late husband, Dr. Harlan Daman, Tsvi Hirsh ben Dovid Aryeh. He died during the week after Simchat Torah so the last Torah portion he heard was the first account of Creation. in honor of his Continue Reading »

Intergenerational Learning at Pardes

Posted on August 16, 2023 by David Gutbezahl

At the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, eager learners of all ages come together to study throughout the year creating a truly multigenerational environment. One family, now spanning three generations of Pardesniks, recently stood out to us as a testament to the power of intergenerational learning. Bobbie and Ed Winter, seasoned Pardesniks, followed their son Continue Reading »

Sacred Phrases

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Darielle Shandler

By Darielle Shandler Pardes Summer Program 2023 Participant “What did the rabbis have to say about this?” “Well, according to the Gemara…” “One could argue that…” “But wait, wait, wait- in the Hebrew it says-” “Okay, so there’s a mahloket- “ All these glorious phrases Scattered, replicated, Crunchy fallen leaves on the Beit Midrash floor Continue Reading »

Disagreeing Better for the Sake of Heaven and Earth: Truth, Integrity, and Relational Disagreement

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Louis Polisson

By Rabbi Louis Polisson – Mahloket Matters Rabbinical Assembly 2022 Fellow Learn more about the Mahloket Matters Fellowship Congregation Or Atid of Wayland, MA Rosh Ha-Shanah Day 2 5783 September 27, 2022 / 2nd of Tishrei, 5783 During my second year of rabbinical school, I spent a year living in Jerusalem. One of my most Continue Reading »

Living Torah

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Carole Zawatsky

– Carole Zawatsky, Pardes Elul 2022 and Winter Learning Seminar 2017 Alumna, CEO of the Tree of Life, Inc. I have learned over time, and with the experiences that life has dealt me, that sometimes hitting the pause button is critical to our spiritual, and emotional growth. After a tough year and a decades long Continue Reading »

The Answer to a Question I Didn’t Ask

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Branden Charles Johnson

This post was written by Branden Johnson (PEEP ’18-’19. PEP ’19-’20). Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to travel the world and see new places. There are very few places at which I would balk; and even fewer that don’t inspire some amount of curiosity in me. For better or worse, Continue Reading »

The Jewish People’s Historical, Spiritual & Emotional Connection to Hebron

Posted on November 26, 2019 by David Berman

I was privileged to join the Pardes trip to Hebron this past week, and would like to share some personal remarks about some of what we saw and heard. I must state at the outset that all the opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect that of my employer, Pardes; it would Continue Reading »

“What would George do?” On Tshuvah and changing the way we think about change

Posted on September 13, 2018 by Mira Niculescu

The other day, my friend Hilorie told me about this wonderful technique she has been using for years in her psychotherapy practice. She tells her patients about this Seinfeld Episode in which George wanted to change things in his life. Remember George? The little fat, balding, glasses wearing and bitterness wreaking single middle-aged man, as Continue Reading »

From fire to peace. Reflections on Tisha B’Av

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Mira Niculescu

Today, Tisha B’ Av, we commemorate the destruction and mourn the burning of the temple. As I open Facebook mechanically, trying to forget the hunger of a fast day, here I see it: a video shared, showing southern Israeli fields burning. Acres and acres of fields and forests and trees burning from fire kites sent Continue Reading »

To feel at home: Shabbat in Turkey (Pardes Turkey trip 2018)

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Gavi Bernat-Kunin Kornsgold

Shabbat entered with a wonderful sense of familiarity. Again we were at the Etz HaHayim synagogue in Ortakoy, honored with co-leading and energizing Friday night services and dinner with our lively songs. Joining us was an Israeli dance group who we were going to see perform Saturday night at the Carmiel dance show! This was Continue Reading »