Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on September 15, 2014 by Jenn Mager
Last Thursday, Michael Hattin provided an outstanding tour of the Archaeology Wing of the Israel Museum. I had visited the museum several times; the tour provided me with a much deeper understanding of the significance of the exhibit. It is the largest collection of biblical archaeology in the world. Walking through the Archaeology Wing is Continue Reading »
Posted on November 16, 2011 by Shibley
Over the past weeks, I have used afternoon seder to study the laws of aveilut (mourning). As with many areas of halakha, there are numerous details and caveats. I have found myself troubled by the seemingly impersonal details of the halacha, which is brings me to Chayei Sarah, our parasha this week. Sarah dies in Continue Reading »
Posted on June 30, 2011 by Avi Strausberg
this parsha is one that sits heavy with death. for one thing, early on, we get the description of what to do when one comes in contact with a dead body. and then, as if the Torah was simply giving us the procedure in order to prepare us for what’s to come, we learn of Continue Reading »
Posted on December 19, 2010 by Avi Strausberg
oops! I forgot to post this last week! this week’s parsha, ויחי, “he lived,” opens and closes with death. yaakov, recently uprooted from his home and supplanted to egypt, makes his son yosef swear that he will bury him in the burial place of his fathers. even after yosef agrees without protest, yaakov insists yosef Continue Reading »
Posted on October 27, 2010 by Avi Strausberg
we learn of three deaths in this week’s parsha, whose very title, חיי שרה, contains the word life. the first death, is that of sarah, for whose death, avraham wails and cries, seemingly alone in his grief. in constrast, after avraham’s own death, just pages later, he breathes his last breath, dies, and is Continue Reading »