These and Those

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

Tag Archives: alumni

[Alumni Guest Post] Derekh Eretz by Kim Phillips

Posted on March 20, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Kim Phillips (Summer ’06) is a marketing professional, artist, writer and teacher in Nashville, Tennessee. One Shabbat morning, the rabbi entered Torah study and, instead of launching into the text, looked intensely around the circle of people gathered there. “I want to know how you feel about Israel,” she said. “However you feel is fine, Continue Reading »

A Jewish Day of Constructive Conflict

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen

On the 9th of Adar, the Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution (PCJCR) sponsored its first annual Jewish Day of Constructive Conflict. According to the Shulchan Aruch, this was the day that the arguments of Bet Hillel and Bet Shammai deteriorated from a respectful difference of opinion into violence. Rabbi Daniel Roth prepared sources Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Seeing the Hand of God In Your Life by Damian Zoppo

Posted on March 18, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Damian (PEP ’04-’06) is currently teaching elementary schoolin Even Yehuda, Israel, and taught for four years at TarbutV’Torah before making Aliyah with his family. The time I spent with friends and teachers studying the wisdom of our people at Pardes was a magical time in my life. I was a student, learning every day with Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Alumni Focus: Rachel Meiner

Posted on March 18, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rachel Meiner (PEP ’06-’08) teaches 2nd and 3rd grade JudaicStudies (Chumash, Yahadut, and Tefillah) at The Hannah SeneshCommunity Day School in Brooklyn, NY. She lives two blocksfrom school with her husband and four month old daughter,Neomi. I returned to teaching three weeks ago after being on maternity leave for the past three months. If I Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Fine Dining (in Jerusalem): Eucalyptus

Posted on March 17, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

X-posted from Foodist Jerusalem, Written by Anna Melman (Year ’05, Fellows ’06) This is a great blog to follow if you’re looking for good food in Jerusalem! Eucalyptus’s deal is that they only serve foods indigenous to the land of Israel. I had been once before, back in 2006 when my dad was visiting, when Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] On Pardes and Faith

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Aaron Voldman

I miss Pardes so much. As I shared with my classmates and teachers before departing, it was a dream to learn in Israel and my experience at Pardes turned out so much better than I ever anticipated! I feel very grateful to my classmates for sharing your insights in class, and for in havruta study Continue Reading »

Singing and Kol Shofar at Women of the Wall

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

This Rosh Hodesh was my second time attending Rosh Hodesh davenning at WoW. Last month, I was glad to check it out and feel like I was part of something important but between the cameras and security, I struggled to feel like I was davenning. This Rosh Hodesh, two amazing things happened. 1) I got Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] My Pardes Experience by Eric Brief

Posted on March 8, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Eric Brief (Yr. 2008-09) sent us the following reflection of his year at Pardes to post on These&Those! Check out his blog to see his beautiful art and weekly divrei Torah! If I remember anything about my experience at Pardes it is that I got more than I could have ever imagined. I’m not exactly Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] D’var Torah: Parashat Vayakel-Pikudei

Posted on March 8, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Daniel Shibley (Year ’11, Fellows ’12) blogs honestly and openly about his thoughts on being drafted into the Israeli Defense Forces after making Aliyah: Israel Flag (Photo credit: Felix_V) Sacrifice. Building of the Mishkan takes center stage in the parasha this week. Moshe asks the Israelites to give to the construction project, to sacrifice some Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] A Single Priceless Line

Posted on March 2, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Aryeh Ben David (Year ’80) shares the following on the Ayeka blog: I find that good poets talk from their soul story. William Stafford gave me insight into my life in a single priceless line. Any Journey When God watches you walk, you are neither straight nor crooked. The journey stretches out, and all of Continue Reading »