These and Those

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

Archive: January 2012

Spectrum of Passion

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Shibley

  Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of participating in a trip called Perspectives Israel which brought me to several locations around Israel, and provided me with an opportunity to hear from a number of different people in on the Israeli political spectrum. With stops in and around Jerusalem, Sderot, and Gush Etzion, I Continue Reading »

In the Words Part I

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Shibley

T’fillah is obviously made up of seemingly countless words. Words that we can learn to say repeatedly, by memory, mumble through, or strike from our t’fillot. Lately, I have wondered about what small changes to the words would do to our experience of prayer. To that end, I have been experimenting with Nusach Sfard instead Continue Reading »

Lauren’s Family Visit

Posted on January 9, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

It’s wonderful when our parents visit us during our years abroad in Israel…Lauren shares her happiness at seeing her Mom & Dad (and some photos) here!

’11 Pardes Chanukkah Song

Posted on January 9, 2012 by S. Rotenberg

This song was created at the Pardes Hanukkah party in Sam Rotenberg’s music shiur. The singers on the track are (in order in which they sing on the track) Austin Clar, Roy Camarillo, Adir Berkowitz, and Sarah Gunning. Lyrics were written by the class, as well as Suzi Brozman, who put her great writing skills Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Shaul Janes

Posted on January 8, 2012 by David Bogomolny

Shaul Janes grew up in Elizabeth, NJ around the corner from a synagogue that his family did not attend. They were culturally Jewish, but their lives were nearly void of Judaism.  As a young man, Shaul fell in love with cooking – he would think about cooking all the time – it became his creative outlet – it was all he wanted to Continue Reading »

Week 18: True Piety

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Derek Kwait

After getting over Hevron, the subject on everyone’s minds and lips all last week was the craziness in Beit Shemesh. I was going to write this blog post with a lot of complaints about how more people aren’t speaking out against this behavior, but since I could have attended the protest and did not, perhaps Continue Reading »

A Shabbat Experience

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Andrea Wiese

All week I had been excited to spend my Shabbat in the “Gush” with two of my teachers. They always have students in their homes for Shabbat, and the anticipation had been building since I heard about other students wonderful experiences. We (Hannah, Yishai, and Amber) left Jerusalem around 1:30, which was way too early, Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Vayechi 5772

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Barer

In this week’s parsha, like at the beginning and end of each book of the Torah, DLK discusses the concept of al regel echad – on one foot. Vayechi 5772 Don’t forget to check out the handout for this podcast, downloadable from here

ויחי

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Barer

This week marks the end of Bereishit (Genesis).  The parsha is focused on the blessings that Yaakov/Yisrael gives his twelve sons, but I want to focus on the end of the parsha.  After the blessings, Yaakov/Yisrael “expires” – the biblical phrase for dying.  Since he asked to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah (which Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] A Quick Thought on Liberal Judaism

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Barer

by Zach Margulies (Year Program 2010-11): One of the central tenets of liberal Judaism is that we make informed choices.  The Reform movement’s mantra of “Choice through Knowledge,” even if often ignored in the Reform movement itself, is still a significant thread that runs through the liberal Jewish world, and which I strongly believe in.  Even Continue Reading »