These and Those

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

Archive: October 2011

Spirited Conversation

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Sharon G.

Yom Kippur Wrap

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Shibley

I will be the first to admit that Yom Kippur is one of my favorite days of the year. Between the liturgical poetry, the beautiful nusach, and the freedom from caring about my appearance, or physical sustenance, the experience is a catharsis of emotions and senses. Even with all of the positives, I found myself Continue Reading »

Two Sounds in One Ear

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Soffer

Originally posted on Darkeynu דרכינו: וברכה שלום, Throughout my year in Israel, I will use this blog to share what I study in the classroom, and to describe what I observe on the streets; I will discuss not only the Torah that I learn, but also the Torah that I live. I hope that in Continue Reading »

Week 5: Days of Awe

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted to my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim,) Rosh HaShana was amazing. The services at Yedidya (which is a lot like YPS except much bigger, and, frankly, younger) were filled with singing and soul, and I got to attend lots of fantastic meals– in terms of both food and company–at the homes of a Pardes Continue Reading »

PEP Tiyul – Second Temple Period

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Andrea Wiese

Today we had a tour of the Second Temple Period in Jerusalem. It was really great, but SO much info in a short amount of time! We went to the South Wall Excavations, The Israel Museum, and the underground mansions where the Kohenim (priests) probably lived. Ian Stern was our guide, and he is absolutely Continue Reading »

Jewish student blog mention of Pardes

Posted on October 5, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media

An OTZMA particpant shares some thoughts after a visit to Pardes: Greetings,   My name is Billie Hirsch and I am a participant of OTZMA 2011-2012, a JFNA initiative offering post-undergraduate students a year in Israel, volunteering in various arenas. I write a blog for Jewish Boston, and recently visited the Pardes Institute on an Continue Reading »

וזאת הברכה, ve’zot ha’bracha

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

this week’s ve’zot ha’bracha, in which moshe blesses each of the tribes individually and makes his final good-byes, marks the closing parsha of our yearly torah cycle.  he then hikes up to the top of mount nevo where God shows him the entirety of the land that was once promised to abraham, isaac, and jacob.  after Continue Reading »

Sacred Time

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Barer

Judaism, one could argue, is obsessed with marking time as sacred, normal, or anywhere in between.  At this time which Judaism demarcates as particularly sacred — we are in the middle of the Aseret Ye’mei Teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance — it is hard not to be caught up in the spiritual fervour that Continue Reading »

My First Day in Israel

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Suzi

I wrote these impressions in early September (more than a month ago) after arriving in Israel… The end of a very long journey, and a long but very exciting day.  I arrived in Israel this morning, via a 12-hour stopover in London (I’ll write about that later, when I wake up).  Found my apartment, just Continue Reading »

האזינו, ha’azinu

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

the language of parshat ha’azinu seems to be in a poetic world of its own, amidst the torah verses that surround it.  a prophetic moshe, nearing the end of both his journey and his life, spews forth a mixture of his own words with God’s in another rage against the people’s disobedience. according to moshe, Continue Reading »