These and Those

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

Tag Archives: appreciation / gratitude

Post-Modernity’s Footnote to Modernity

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Barer

I just had the immense privilege of watching Footnote (הערת שוליים) with some fellow Pardesniks followed by a discussion with faculty who have intimate personal knowledge of the culture being described in the film.  First, I highly recommend watching the trailer and, if you are even remotely interested, watching the movie before reading what I Continue Reading »

Week 36: From Silence to Song

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Derek Kwait

(Mostly X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) The weekend before last was the retreat Shabbaton for Self, Soul, and Text class at Kibbutz Hanaton, our teacher James’ home, in the Galil. The schedules Friday and Saturday were nearly identical, each day going like: 9-9:45: Sit. 9:45-10:30: Walk. 10:30-11:15: Sit. 11:15-12:30: Lunch. 12:30-1:15-Sit. It Continue Reading »

Issue of Hugs

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Andrea Wiese

At Pardes, all my teachers are orthodox, which means they don’t touch people of the opposite gender. This doesn’t really seem to be an issue, except, I love my teachers! And sometimes, I really want to give them a hug. They are the best!! I can’t explain to you how wonderful they are as people, Continue Reading »

Week 35: Other Things I’ve Learned in Israel

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) I came to Israel wanting to learn Torah, and I have. Thank God, I’ve learned tons of Torah here and am privileged to learn more each day. But now that it’s May and I’m entering into the home stretch of my first year in Israel, I’ve gotten Continue Reading »

Week 34: Yom HaZikaron/Yom HaAtzma’ut

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) Since the end of Pesach, the whole city has been snowing Israeli flags. Every morning, more and more of them turned up, sticking out of car windows, strewn across balconies, suspended from buildings and streetlights, pocketing rearview mirrors—flags everywhere a flag could fit, all in preparation for Continue Reading »

2012 Poland Trip: A Journal Entry from April 18, 2012 (Erev Yom YaShoah)

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Laura H.

Being in Israel has taught me how to prepare. No, not how to properly pack bags, or take provisions for a hike – both of which are useful skills in this country, but how to prepare mentally. I noticed this immediately when I arrived. Pardes began as the month of Elul started, a time when Continue Reading »

Week 33: Family

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Derek Kwait

This is the time of year for family. Last week, when Shabbat directly followed the last day of Pesach, creating a rare 8-day Passover in Israel, Friday afternoon, I was kindly invited over the home of a local family. The Mr. and the Mrs. were born in America, but each have been here for well Continue Reading »

A little something to brighten our days

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Heligman

I have been studying at Pardes for almost two years now. I am not in the Educators Program or the Year Program – I am in the life program. I want to share why I will never leave Pardes, why Pardes students glow when you ask them about their time there, why I am getting Continue Reading »

The Disability Community in Israel

Posted on April 3, 2012 by J. Belasco

Most people who know me know that I am active in the field of disability rights.  While it has taken me a while to connect to a disability community here in Jerusalem, I have recently begun to do so through the Jerusalem Center for Independent Living (מרכז לחיים עצמאיים), which is located in a decently-sized, Continue Reading »

Poland V

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart

(The fifth in a series of 5 posts detailing my heritage trip to Poland… originally posted on my blog) ___________________ Righteous Among the Nations   “Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world”- Talmud In a world where morality no longer existed, where any action could lead to one’s death, there were people who stood out Continue Reading »