Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on June 6, 2011 by Zach
Earlier this week, I was talking with a friend who works for an American company, and she mentioned that she had a day off. I was confused for a minute, since she works all the time. Then she reminded me that it was Memorial Day in the US. Having just recently witnessed the the big Continue Reading »
Posted on June 4, 2011 by Pious Antic
Yom Yerushalayim, which was observed this week, celebrates the reunification of the old city of Jerusalem under Jewish control in 1967, after 19 years in which the city was divided between Jewish and Arab control. Unsurprisingly, given the historical, political and moral complexity of the events it commemorates, Yom Yerushalayim is not a universally beloved Continue Reading »
Posted on May 29, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, This afternoon during my Tanach class I took a poll of students and staff asking the following questions: have you spent (significant) time in the desert? If yes, how did it feel? How would you describe your experience(s) there? The reason I took this poll is because these questions have followed me as Continue Reading »
Posted on May 28, 2011 by Shibley
Israel bears an incredible cost for its existence. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the numbers of Israelis whose lives have been lost to war and terrorism is staggering, relative to the size of the country. This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to go to Har Herzel, one of Israel’s military cemeteries, the Continue Reading »
Posted on April 2, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Much ink has been spilled over the seemingly cryptic laws of ritual purity and the illness of tzaraat recounted in Parshat Tazria. Actually I learned this week from Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (of the UK) that the original translation of the disease of as “leprosy”. This is a misnomer since the biblical disease of tzaraat Continue Reading »
Posted on March 13, 2011 by Zach
Not so long ago, I was walking along Pierre Koenig Street near my house, and got to a red light at the intersection across from Pardes. It was pretty deserted at that time of night, with only a few cars and pedestrians out. While I was waiting, a van pulled up next to me, completely Continue Reading »
Posted on March 3, 2011 by Shibley
Davening in sacred spaces has received several mentions on this blog, usually referring to indoor areas. Having just completed a three day tiyul in the Golan Heights, we had several opportunities to daven outdoors. After these few days, and other experiences, I can safely say that I do not personally find outdoor davening to be Continue Reading »
Posted on February 8, 2011 by David Bogomolny
Pirkei Avot Podcast, Ep. 2 This is our 2nd Podcast episode… The 1st can be found here. This series is brought to you by the students of Pardes, with praticular kudos to Joel Dinin for leading this project!
Posted on January 24, 2011 by Michael
The root of the Hebrew word for love—AHAVA—is Hav; to give. To give one’s mind to Gd in a gesture of mutual love is to receive Gd in every moment; to live a life of contemplation, to silence the ego thoughts and desires in order to receive Gd waving to us at all times eternally. Continue Reading »
Posted on December 27, 2010 by Shibley
I along with what I imagine must be many Americans, Jewish and non, have at some point contemplated what Christmas in Israel looks like. Having just experienced it, I can tell you that for the most part it looks like any other day. Since Shabbat and Christmas coincided this year, I can really only say Continue Reading »
