Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on January 26, 2012 by Anton L. Gershteyn
2 minutes ago one of my most beloved friends, Alexander Zaitzev died. 23 years old. Sasha was one of the most reasonable, kind and open-hearted human beings I met in my life. Sasha was humble, but eager to fight for justice, loving and caring. He did not need any religion or any God to Continue Reading »
Posted on January 12, 2012 by Soffer
Originally posted here. This week we begin the book of Shemot. What is fascinating about how most students learn this narrative is that before even reading the text for the first time, they have already been taught the outcome. Inevitably, the tragedy of Jewish enslavement seems less severe, because the student understands slavery is the Continue Reading »
Posted on December 21, 2011 by Derek Kwait
At my shul back home, Young People’s Synagogue, members take turns giving the d’var Torah each Saturday morning. This is one I gave for Parashat Mikketz/Shabbat Chanukah on December 19, 2009 about the parsha, Chanukah, and the Holocaust. For what it’s worth, these themes repeated themselves again this year when we began learning about the Continue Reading »
Posted on November 16, 2011 by Derek Kwait
(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) My Bubbie died Tuesday morning. The funeral will be Friday. As I am in Israel, I will not be able mourn with my family or attend. But this is life, this is what happens. It was not a shock, she had been sick for about a month 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 May 25, 2011 by Joel D.
Posted on May 19, 2011 by Aviva P.
In addition to some poems (1, 2) that we wrote after our ’10-’11 Pardes Poland trip, we also selected some poetry to share during our group’s commemorative ceremonies in Poland. We shared these with the rest of Pardes on Yom HaShoah. Then They Came for Me, Martin Niemöller Dead Men Don’t Praise God, Jacob Glatstein The Trees are Continue Reading »
Posted on May 16, 2011 by Aviva P.
Pardes trips to Poland are run in partnership with Heritage Seminars. The Claims Conference has provided trip scholarships for qualifying Pardes participants, as well as subsidies for program components directed at Jewish educators.
Posted on May 9, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, I feel very privileged to write to you today after my first week back at Pardes. On numerous occasions this week, I have been reminded of the incredible blessing to learn Torah full time, from such dedicated and wise teachers and classmates, and of course, in my beloved Jerusalem. And yet, this week Continue Reading »
Posted on April 19, 2011 by Joel D.
