Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on October 1, 2014 by Sarah Pollack
From my blog: “To not forgive would be an unbearable breach of the unity of creation.” – Jay Litvin It seems as though this is the time to talk about doing teshuva, returning, asking for forgiveness. I feel as though since I arrived in Israel, a day has not passed by without talking about forgiveness. Continue Reading »
Posted on October 1, 2014 by Susan Fendrick
Pardes alumni, Susan P. Fendrick reminisces on her days at Pardes as she witnesses the next generation of women learning Talmud in this post originally published in the Jewish Advocate. Last week was a milestone in my daughter’s life—the kind of “first” that Jewish mothers of girls delightedly anticipate their daughters reaching, waiting to welcome Continue Reading »
Posted on October 1, 2014 by Geo Poor
Dear Men, Staring through the eyes of 50% of the Y-chromosome-holders in the Egalitarian Minyan, I wonder a question that I have never before thought but have heard from the other gender: “Where are all the guys?” Why is it that while the Mechizta Minyan has some 12 men and 2 women, the Egalitarian Minyan Continue Reading »
Posted on September 29, 2014 by Robbie Grabowitz
I want to return to the past In my mind I see a Golden Age When I was Pure Pristine Like Adam and Eve Before the Fall And in that age, I was blissful and young I could laugh Really laugh! of a light-hearted but deep and Full Belly Laughter.
Posted on September 29, 2014 by Binyamin Cohen
Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. דְּבָרִים לב:א “הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וַאֲדַבֵּרָה; וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ, אִמְרֵי-פִי.” “Listen heaven, and I will speak! Earth, hear the words of my mouth.” Ha’azinu is an interesting parsha, both in structure and in language. The parsha is presented in the Torah Continue Reading »
Posted on September 28, 2014 by Suzanne Hutt
When I learned that the theme of this Shabbaton would be “Building Community,” I asked Meesh if I could speak about something that I am extremely passionate about, and thankfully she said yes. But before I get to that, I want to talk about what we are, all of us, which is basically a room Continue Reading »
Posted on September 28, 2014 by Ariella Siegel
From my blog: 9/22/14 (Pictures below!) This past weekend was the first shabbaton, or retreat, of the year with school. It was a really nice way of getting to know people outside of the school environment (which can be intense). Looking at our very scheduled weekend, I was concerned I wouldn’t have enough time for Continue Reading »
Posted on September 28, 2014 by Geo Poor
There was a wise man who wanted to deliver a speech, so he thought and he prepared himself and he stepped forward and built a Stage.
Posted on September 22, 2014 by Samantha Vinokor
I struggle deeply with my feelings about Jerusalem. For years, I felt like I didn’t “get it.” I didn’t understand that feeling that I heard people talk about. That sense of holiness, of connection to God, which they only experience here. While others longed for Jerusalem, my mythical city was Tel Aviv. The fast-paced, modern Continue Reading »
Posted on September 22, 2014 by Sarah Marx
In the last week, hovering on the edge of Rosh Hashanah, I’ve heard and sung songs that shook me to my core. In the coming weeks, I’ll be faced with many more – liturgy for the High Holidays, its passion and fear barely contained by the melodies’ majesty, or zemirot sung around the Shabbat table. Continue Reading »
