These and Those

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

Tag Archives: blessing / bracha

[Self / Soul & Text] Mindful Eating

Posted on February 28, 2012 by David Bogomolny

He sighed inwardly. It was Monday morning, and he hadn’t done his “mindful eating practice” yet. He’d been busy. Long days, full of Jewish study and prayer, were keeping him busy… but he knew also that he’d been procrastinating – he didn’t like the idea of this practice. It made him uncomfortable. He put 3 Continue Reading »

תולדות

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Barer

One of the things that stayed with me after spending most of my four months in Chumash class last year at Pardes studying this week’s parsha is how important it is to consider Yitzchak’s mindset as he blesses his sons.  This is someone who probably had a very rocky relationship with their own father, and, Continue Reading »

[Fellows Dvar Torah] Pluralism

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Barer

[This is a slightly emended version of the D’var Torah I gave to the Fellows last week:] “We have benedictions for all occasions…And on beholding a Jewish audience [of 600,000 or more] the Talmud [Berachot 58a] prescribes a special benediction: [“Baruch chacham harazim sh’ein da’atam dome zeh la’zeh v’ein partzufeihen domim zeh la’zeh”]  Blessed is Continue Reading »

וזאת הברכה, ve’zot ha’bracha

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

this week’s ve’zot ha’bracha, in which moshe blesses each of the tribes individually and makes his final good-byes, marks the closing parsha of our yearly torah cycle.  he then hikes up to the top of mount nevo where God shows him the entirety of the land that was once promised to abraham, isaac, and jacob.  after Continue Reading »

Music

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Jean

When I drove down Whiskey Row, past the town square, someone was standing by the county courthouse, playing bagpipes. Part of my mind noted how odd that was. I parked my car by the funeral home and got out. I walked with determination halfway to the door. Then I turned around and walked back to Continue Reading »

Refuah Shleimah

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Shibley

My apologies for the long delay between posts. I was privileged to be visited by my parents followed by a battle with the flu, which has become in the inspiration for this post. While I was sick with the flu, I was fortunate enough to receive get well wishes from a number of teachers and Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Salvation

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I hope you are all well, wherever you are and whatever crazy winter weather you are experiencing! It’s hard to believe that the fall semester at Pardes ended last week. I have learned SO much in these last few months and look forward to soaking up as much Torah as possible, further exploring Continue Reading »

Morning Revelation

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Shibley

Among the other brachot offered during the shacharit (morning t’fillah) we find one that is about the creation of light and darkness. The text reads “Blessed are You God Master [king] of the universe, who forms light and creates darkness, makes peace, and creates all.” I have long been confused as to the placement of Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Peaceful Slumber

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Last week I was reading through the parsha and was struck by very familiar words, namely those of Jacob when he blesses Joseph’s sons, Efraim and Menashe. Sensing his death is near, Jacob beckons his grandsons to receive his blessing. יד  וַיִּשְׁלַח יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-יְמִינוֹ וַיָּשֶׁת עַל-רֹאשׁ אֶפְרַיִם, וְהוּא הַצָּעִיר, וְאֶת-שְׂמֹאלוֹ, עַל-רֹאשׁ מְנַשֶּׁה:  שִׂכֵּל, Continue Reading »

When Tomorrow Comes

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Spirit Wolf

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” — Sir Hillel the Great (or just Hillel, as he’s commonly known 🙂 ) ————————- “When Tomorrow Comes” When tomorrow comes, Let it be for good. No more hiding from Continue Reading »