These and Those

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

Tag Archives: blessing / bracha

[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 »

Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) Olive Tree Planting

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Rachel Rosenbluth

Tu Bishvat. It’s a day to plant a tree, hug a tree, or nap under a tree. Tu Bishvat symbolizes grounded-ness and growth; rooted-ness and renewal. I celebrated this year’s Tu Bishvat by joining Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) on a trip to Qusra, a Palestinian community in the West Bank. Beginning with blessings in Hebrew Continue Reading »

[Pardes From Jerusalem Podcast] Bo 5773: Pesach and the First Seder

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

This week, Rabbi David Levin-Kruss discusses Parashat Bo in Pesach and the First Seder. Bo 5773   Shabbat shalom!

[Alumni Guest Post] Daniel Shibley: Snowy Parshat Va’eira

Posted on January 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Alum Daniel Shibley (Fellows ’12) is on a roll! Check out this dvar Torah for Parshat Va’era: Well documented in Facebook photos and through the news outlets are the rain and snow that have fallen throughout the State of Israel over the last several days. While Jerusalem has not seen snow like this in nearly Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Daniel Shibley: Splish Splash!

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

From Daniel Shibley’s (Fellows ’12) blog: For all of its technological innovations Israel has yet to see, en masse, the value of weather stripping or double pane windows, the lack of which causes an incessant rattle of windows and drafts of unknown origin. Such alterations in construction could save drastically on energy bills, which obviously Continue Reading »

A Chanting Journey from Mitzrayim to Tzion

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

From my blog: This past week, I taught my first Peer Teaching lesson at Pardes.  It was a chanting workshop on the personal experience of Yetziat Mitzrayim.  Often, when I lead chanting workshops, I offer kavannot once the group is lost in the chant.  Words of yearning or blessing that float about the sounds of Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Shira Abramowitz – The Burden of Legacy: It is no dream.

Posted on January 4, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Shira has left us for another adventure, and we miss her… But her insightful writing continues (x-posted here below)! Legacy. A pretty big word around here. Here being Jerusalem, a city that many nations hold dear due to its history and importance in relation to their people, their culture, their religion. As a proud member of Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Annie Gilbert – Parshat Vayechi – a Poem

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Annie Matan Gilbert

This week’s PCJE Dvar Torah is on Parshat Vayechi and is heavily inspired by the amazing divrei Torah of Yaffa Epstein and Jenna King-Brill at recent Pardes Night Seders. It’s also a little bit connected to this week’s learning in Ayeka, about “The Hard Stuff” in relationship with God and others. I have been pondering Continue Reading »

[Pardes From Jerusalem Podcast] VaYechi 5773: The “Blessing” of Shimon and Levi

Posted on December 27, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

This week, Neima Novetsky discusses Parashat VaYechi in “The ‘Blesssing’ of Shimon and Levi.’” Neima VaYechi 5773 Shabbat Shalom!

The trees are alive with the sound of silence

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Shoshana Rosen

By Shoshana Rosen How do I even begin to put into words, an experience that in its essence has no words? Just recently coming back from a silent meditation shabbaton, up north at Kibbutz Hannaton I realize only how much it impacted me by the stark reality of coming back home. Like many have said Continue Reading »