Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on November 10, 2010 by Jean
When God began to create… darkness was over the surface of the deep… God said ‘Let there be light…’ God separated light from darkness. (Genesis 1:1) Rav Meir suggested that water and darkness are realms of the Divine. They were contracted to make a place where humans could thrive. The darkness is “an entity to Continue Reading »
Posted on November 9, 2010 by Merissa
Today in class someone asked if I consider myself racially Jewish. I answered as honestly as possible on the spot, “I don’t know, I am still forming my Jewish identity.” My thoughts are quick, but not that quick. Later it occurred to me both why I was speaking in dissent, and how I define myself Continue Reading »
Posted on November 9, 2010 by Pious Antic
This is a cross-post from my personal blog. The Hebrew word tiyul has no exact translation in English. A tiyul could be a long walk in a city park, a week-long guided bus tour of Israel, or a multi-week backing trip through South America. Last week, I went on Pardes’ annual tiyul to the Negev Continue Reading »
Posted on November 8, 2010 by Avi Strausberg
in last week’s parsha, rebecca turns to God to explain the incredible pains she is experiencing in her pregrancy. she is told that she is carrying two people, two nations within her stomach – these two new nations will be realized through the twin birth of jacob and esau. during the pregnancy, ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה, the Continue Reading »
Posted on November 8, 2010 by Michael
I am reading a fascinating book by Aryeh Kaplan called Jewish Meditation. It is practical as a guide to develop the spirit through at least thirty minutes of daily meditation in a completely Jewish manner. By the way, he talks about how the central prayer of Judaism, the Shemonah Esrei (meaning 18 prayers), otherwise known Continue Reading »
Posted on November 7, 2010 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, Last week I went on a day trip exploring East Jerusalem, specifically the Mount of Olives, Silwan (neighbouring the City of David), Sheikh Jarrah, Damascus Gate and the Old City. The objective of the trip was to explore a side of Jerusalem many of us don’t often see or interact with, and therefore, Continue Reading »
Posted on November 6, 2010 by Pious Antic
This entry is a cross-post from my personal blog. This week, in my Talmud class, we looked at a couple of classic sugyot in the Gemara, one of of which, in the first chapter of Tractate Eruvin, discusses some conflicts between the rival schools of Hillel and Shammai. Before the Montagues and the Capulets, before Continue Reading »
Posted on November 5, 2010 by Barer
What value does tradition have? What is added to an action, ritual, or practice from it being something that has been done for 500 years as opposed to 50 years or 5 years, or compared to starting a new ‘tradition’ altogether? As anyone who has watched Fiddler on the Roof knows – and judging by Continue Reading »
