Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on March 28, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
Wow, it has flown by. I really can’t believe that I only get to teach these wonderful students just one last day. We have studied pieces of Tanakh, Mishah, and Talmud. They have read about the “Jewish” life cycle, mitzvot that the father is obligated to do for his son, the importance of creating a Continue Reading »
Posted on March 21, 2012 by Esther Mazal
Since I lifted off from the Holy Land on February 23th, life has definitely been a whirlwind on what I affectionately like to refer to as “My Whirlwind North American Tour” (sounds snazzy, huh?). From New York City to Boston to Detroit (to Toronto for an impromptu drop-in in my hometown, then back to Detroit Continue Reading »
Posted on March 14, 2012 by Heligman
Last December I attended the first of a series of Meditation Retreats in Hannaton (co-led by Pardes faculty member James Jacobson-Maisels). It’s been about 2 months now since experiencing the awakened state of being that defines “Retreat”. I call it an awakened state because the sensitivity you develop during these retreats can be described in Continue Reading »
Posted on March 14, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
We were browsing through the MASA Israel Blog, and found… At the end of last year (2010-11), alum Carla Farson wrote this: In the spring of 2010 I received a Masa grant to study in the Year Program at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. By the grace of Masa, I was given the Continue Reading »
Posted on March 6, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart
Originally posted here: Last Wednesday, my school held its annual Yom Iyyun Shel Chesed (Day of Kindness). This special day is held in the memory of Marla Bennett and Ben Blutstein, z”l, who were killed in a suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem in 2002. Marla and Ben were both students at Pardes, pursuing their dreams Continue Reading »
Posted on March 5, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
Tuesday night I drove up to Oak Brook to have dinner with Katie, Jack, and Gail at Cheese Cake Factory. I also saw Katie and Rick’s new home, which is gorgeous! Then I continued to Buffalo Grove to sleep at my cousins house to be close to the Schechter Jewish Day School that I observed Continue Reading »
Posted on February 20, 2012 by Mira
The shift from first semester to second semester started during our week off when half of Pardes went on a tiyul to the Arava desert. I’m not a hiking fan, but I love the desert in Israel and have always felt connected to it. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect on my Continue Reading »
Posted on February 19, 2012 by Derek Kwait
(Mostly X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) * For Tuesday’s group lecture, Robby Berman, head of the Halakhic Organ Donor Society came to give a riveting, inspiring, infuriating talk. I’ll sum it up in brief: There is no valid Jewish (or non-Jewish) reason to not save lives by being an organ donor. If Continue Reading »
Posted on February 12, 2012 by Derek Kwait
(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) Some of my fondest Jewish childhood memories are of Tu B’Shvat. Every year in Sunday School, we at Beth Israel Center threw a huge seder, with tens of species of exotic and familiar fruits, and a student-made Hagadda. Every year I looked forward to watching the grape Continue Reading »
Posted on January 22, 2012 by Naomi Zaslow
The Spring semester begins today! Here are the “goodbye” videos from the last community lunch of Fall semester: For those who missed it, R. Landes is taking a sabbatical this semester… he’ll be back next Fall!