These and Those

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

Tag Archives: chevruta / havruta

It’s Not You, It’s Me

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Lauren Schuchart

Now that the biggest chunk of Jewish holidays is over, we are finally settling into a rhythm at school. Personally, I feel like I’m getting into the swing of things, and starting to really understand the many benefits of studying Jewish texts. One of the most unique components of Jewish learning that I’ve come to love Continue Reading »

Learning with Pardes: Thoughts in Photos

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Mary Brett Koplen

I originally posted this on my blog after my summer session at Pardes… and I will hopefully be studying with you all next year. I had such an amazing experience this summer, and I can’t wait to be back! In the three weeks I studied at Pardes, I learned more than I ever knew I Continue Reading »

Week 2: View From the Top

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Derek Kwait

(Cross-posted from my blog for “The Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh”, Yinzer in Yerushalayim.) I am writing this now on a mirpeset* (even people who don’t speak Hebrew call them mirpesets here, and it’s already become such second-nature for me that I can’t go back) with a sweeping view of Jerusalem at night, including the lit-up Continue Reading »

Week 1: Orientation

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Derek Kwait

(First published on my blog for “The Jewish Chronicle” of Pittsburgh, Yinzer in Yerushalayim, 9 September 2011) Sunday was orientation at Pardes. The getting-to-know-you introductions at the beginning made one thing clear straight-away—this is a place of diversity. The students at Pardes range from future Open Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform rabbis, to a dude who’s Continue Reading »

Video Blog

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Mary Brett Koplen

Cross-posted from here:

Why I learn Talmud

Posted on May 19, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media

A Testimonial by Avigail Hurvitz-Prinz About a month ago my Talmud class did an exercise where we shared our reasons for studying Gemora. Everyone had their own reasons, and my list came up to a total of 21 reasons as wide ranging as “intellectual challenge” and “to have a sense of the Rabbinic world” or Continue Reading »

Sweet Apricots!

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Pious Antic

Last year, my chevruta and I were in the Beit Midrash, studying a section of Gemara dealing with the obligations of a husband to his wife when we came across the phrase משמשין מטותיהן. In a hurry to finish the section before our next class, my chevruta quickly translated the phrase as “Sweet Apricots”. This Continue Reading »

learning at Pardes

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Zach

After my first month at Pardes, I started getting into the routine of classes, and developed a pretty good sense of how the rest of the year would look.   They way we learn here is very different from the way we learn in college; in college, classes meet two or three times a week for an hour at Continue Reading »

Havruta series w/Rav Landes

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David Bogomolny

As part of my Fellows project, I get to work with Rosh Yeshiva Rav Landes on his vlog. He’s often working overseas, but we recently had the opportunity to film 2 sessions of a new video havruta series with him and Rabbi Adam Frank (a Pardes alumnus!). Check out parts ONE & TWO (there will hopefully Continue Reading »

map of the Beit Midrash

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Daniel Weinreb

Here’s a map of the Beit Midrash and a few thoughts to go with it. (pdf map)  By November, the Beit Midrash was getting a little messy – books of the Rif, Gra, and Rambam lying on tables next to BDBs, Franks and Jastrows. Books off of shelves is a good sign, a sign that Continue Reading »