These and Those

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

Tag Archives: community

New Year’s Intentions: Tefilah and Focus

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Amy Gold

This was originally distributed to the families of Epstein Hillel School, January 2, 2019. Amy Gold participated in the Pardes Tefilah Education Initiative Retreat in the Boston area. To register for our June 2019 conference visit our Tefilah Education Conference for Day School Administrators homepage. January first brings New Year’s resolutions. Commercials on the radio, social Continue Reading »

Partnership Minyanim, Banning and Front Pages…Moving Forwards

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Miriam Lorie

This blog was originally posted at the author’s blog, miriammuses.com. Since publishing the blog below, the situation I described has developed, I hope and believe for the best. While what I wrote below remains an accurate description of the past few months, and a true reflection of my thoughts on it, it feels right to add Continue Reading »

The Cubs Win! Baruch HaShem?

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Jamie Bornstein

This blog was originally posted on Times of Israel. I’m staring intently at one of the 40 flat screen TV’s in a standing-room only sports bar in Skokie, IL, and I stand out like a sore thumb. In the mob surrounding me, every soul, patron and server, is laden with Cubs gear. I, on the other Continue Reading »

Cheshvan: The Silence After Love

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Mira Niculescu

The silence after love: stretching space for all to be.  A Kavannah for the month of Cheshvan Last Tuesday morning was the first day of Rosh chodesh Cheshvan 5777. All of us at Pardes, faculty and students, alumni and guests, were invited to a communal morning davening, to welcome in the new month all together. Continue Reading »

Dayenu

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Pessy Baskin

This post was delivered at our farewell community lunch for the August 2016 summer students. As many of you already know, I came to Pardes to learn Torah in honor of the anniversary of my father’s passing. I want to thank all my chavrutot, who so graciously agreed to learn as an aliyah for his neshama. One Continue Reading »

Questions

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Estella Gabay

Before I got on the plane to Israel, I had many doubts. It wasn’t my first time in Israel, but my purpose was different from my previous visits. I was hesitant this time, overwhelmed. I am from Istanbul. I am Jewish, living in a Muslim community. Am I living a Jewish life? I ask that question to Continue Reading »

Jerusalem Pride: Reflections

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Rachel Bikofsky

I was marching with friends, caught up in the music and dancing, and awed by the displays of courage and strength that surged around me. Suddenly, police officers started running by us, and we heard sirens as the crowd hurried to get out of the road so an ambulance could drive through. Within seconds, everyone Continue Reading »

Shmita

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Maya Zinkow

When I thought about what I could say to encapsulate two years spent in this special place of learning and growth, I thought about the Maya of two years ago, how she might be unsure of where, even, to begin. There was always the parsha to look to, but if she were to close her Continue Reading »

Parshat Vayakhel: Diversity and Inclusion

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Melinda Jones

Every Friday is a rush in my family. Everyone runs backwards and forwards getting ready for Shabbat. In order to have a peaceful and relaxing Shabbat, it seems we need to have lots of stress and much too much shouting. So nothing makes the point of having a day of rest better than that moment when we light candles Continue Reading »

Yom Iyun shel Chesed 2016: The Power of Supporting Choice

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Ma'ayan Dyer

When I decided to volunteer at Hillel, a non-profit organization in Jerusalem that is dedicated to helping former ultra-orthodox Jews that have decided to leave the Haredi world and assimilate into secular society, I was not entirely sure what I was getting into. Inspired by a disturbing report in a 2014 article in The New Continue Reading »