These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Tanakh / Bible

#MeToo: Power, Agency, Voice and Consent in the Book of Genesis

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Jamie Bornstein

In light of the #MeToo campaign and the ongoing soul searching that we are doing as a country about sexual harassment, I have shared some thoughts below on Parashat Vayera, the fourth Torah portion of Sefer Bereishit, the Book of Genesis. In this Torah portion there is a very jarring string of sexually charged scenarios, Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] “Be Strong”

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Hirsch Fishman

Daniel Shibley’s (Year ’11, Fellows ’12, Kollel ’14) post: Day in and day out in the army, somebody somewhere can be overheard delivering these two words. Often they follow a complaint about any number of potential issues or a minor injury. Frankly, there are plenty of opportunities to be on the giving and receiving end Continue Reading »

[PEEP Graduation ’13] Athletes of God

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Leah Kahn

Here is my dvar Torah from the PCJE Graduation ceremony! Martha Graham was one of the sages, entrepreneurs and Rebbes of modern dance. Says Graham: “I believe that we learn by practice. It is the performance of a dedicated, precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Sefer Shmuel: The Poem

Posted on June 6, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

By RRC student Kate Cook (hourly ’12-’13), for the siyum of Michael Hattin’s Sefer Shmuel class. In our reading of Shmuel we got the p’shat of Characters, plot or a literary theme. Intertextuality we’ve had quite a lot of But not the centrality of the kelim. For instance the spear: Plishtim cornered the market With Continue Reading »

Joseph’s Dreams: an Artists’ Beit Midrash

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Avigayle Adler

In Daniel Roth’s Advanced Chumash: Biblical Mediation Class, Mike Nash & I ran an Artists’ Beit Midrash activity (download .PPT), based upon a comparison of Joseph’s two dreams. Our beit midrash activity was inspired by Jo Milgrom’s book Handmade Midrash. Here are our classmates (and Daniel Roth) hard at work, creating visual representations of Joseph’s Continue Reading »

a Dvar for Hannah

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

Relative to life, Hannah and I are new friends. Even though we knew each other before, we really met at the beginning of this year. I was lucky enough to room with her at the first Shabbaton of the year where I finally got the inside scoop on the engagement. (Eitan really couldn’t provide enough Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Bamidbar 5773

Posted on May 10, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

This week Rabbi Michael Hattin discusses Parashat Bemidbar. Bemidbar ’73 Shabbat shalom!

Sarah the Mother

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

From my blog: The following snippets were written as part of a Storahtelling exercise to help us get to know the characters/voices with which we are teaching Torah. We are working with some verses from Parshat Vayera, Genesis Chapter 21, verses 8-10. In character, we were asked to answer the following questions: My biggest regret Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Connection by Distinction – by Eryn London

Posted on April 8, 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 »

Love and a Pigeon

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Ten Characteristics of a Good Pigeon Handler: The pigeon handler is moderate in his disposition. A reckless pigeon handler frightens the pigeons. The pigeon handler is loyal and responsible and carries out his tasks in an orderly and punctual fashion. The pigeon handler is kindhearted and cares for each and every pigeon. Continue Reading »