Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on May 24, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Alicia Jo Rabins (Year ’99, Fellows ’00) wrote the following in memory of her friend Peter Avniel Salzman z”l A few weeks ago, when the current Pardes students asked me to write something for this blog, I planned to write about how the two years I studied there changed my life. How I was, at Continue Reading »
Posted on May 22, 2013 by Rabbi Julie Gordon
R. Julie Gordon (PEP ’12) recollects: Here are some of my thoughts after my experience davenning with Women of the Wall (WOW) on May 10, 2013. I was exhilarated on the day after my bat mitzvah when I learned how to lay tefillin through the wisdom and care of Bert Cooper, z”l, our Albert Lea, Continue Reading »
Posted on May 21, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Robyn (Year ’08, PEP ’10) is a third-year teacher. She teaches High School Judaics at the Emory/Wiener School in Houston, where she will continue in the fall. My name is Robyn Miller. Typically, May is not a good time to ask me about my life as a teacher. I’m about to finish my third year Continue Reading »
Posted on May 21, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Tamara Frankel (PEP ’09-’11) is in her second year of teaching at Chicagoland Jewish High School. It’s one of the first sunny days in Chicago this spring and my students beg me to take them outside for class. We negotiate and decide to review our homework in class, on the board, and then go outside Continue Reading »
Posted on May 19, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
X-posted from Eryn’s blog post: Eryn London (Summer ’06 & ’07, Community Education ’10, Year ’10-’11, Hourly ’11-’12) made Aliya from New Jersey three years ago. She is currently studying in the Manhiga Hilchatit Program at Midreshet Lindenbaum, which is a 5 year advanced Halacha learning program. Beyond learning she also runs activities at a Continue Reading »
Posted on May 12, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Sarah Margles (Year ’02, PEP ’04) reflects upon preparing for Shavuot… what does “readiness” mean? I remember when I first started at Pardes, I would spend much of Fridays getting ready for Shabbat – shopping, cooking, cleaning. When the siren went to light candles, my roommate would inevitably yell out, while running from the bathroom Continue Reading »
Posted on May 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
New Alumni Blog Post! Stef Jadd Susnow (Year Program ’06-’07, PEP ’07-’09) Writes about her inspiration to make Aliyah This time of year in Israel, you can’t really go a week without a holiday. This week we celebrated Yom Yerushalayim – the day that celebrates the unification of Jerusalem after the 1967 war. One year Continue Reading »
Posted on May 9, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Shira Abramowitz (Fall 2012) sent us this postcard from Cape Town, South Africa! To my amazing friends over in Talpiyot, Chag Sameach! (Although I understand it may not still be Pesach once this reaches you!) Just want to send some love & gratitude to your incredible community – I think about you all so much Continue Reading »
Posted on May 7, 2013 by Avigayle Adler
In the Gemara, Shabbat is defined by the work that surrounds it and goes into preparing for it. We light the Sabbath candles to mark the beginning of Shabbat and light the Havdallah candle to mark its conclusion. Shabbat, therefore is book-ended, suspended in time between these two rituals of light. Interestingly enough, lighting a Continue Reading »
Posted on May 6, 2013 by Avigayle Adler
Grapes, Pomegranates, Olives, Dates, Figs, Wheat and Barley have a special significance to the Land of Israel and are given special mention and priority on Tubishevat, the Jewish New Year for trees. Indeed they have priority when blessing food as well. I have always been enchanted with