Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on December 14, 2012 by Adam L Masser
A classic example in the spirit of channukah–Shammai and Hillel on how to light a menorah. Shammai takes a literal reading, deduces logically that the miracle provided for 8 days of oil and so tells us to start with 8 flames and reduce each night. Hillel holds the opposite–start with 1 light and add a Continue Reading »
Posted on December 9, 2012 by Derek Kwait
Maybe it’s because I grew up feeling like one, or maybe it’s just some genetic Jewish thing, but for whatever reason, I’ve always sympathized with the outsider. When I went on the Tale of Three Cities tiyyul the two weeks ago, I didn’t know what to expect, except that we were going to meet three Continue Reading »
Posted on December 5, 2012 by Shoshana Rosen
By Shoshana Rosen How do I even begin to put into words, an experience that in its essence has no words? Just recently coming back from a silent meditation shabbaton, up north at Kibbutz Hannaton I realize only how much it impacted me by the stark reality of coming back home. Like many have said Continue Reading »
Posted on December 2, 2012 by Falynn Schmidt
Originally posted on my blog: Years ago I heard comedian Yisrael Campbell give his shpiel about converting to Judaism. It is hilariously funny in the way that can only come from truths. In one part, the rabbis ask him, “Do you put your lot in with the Jewish people.” “Sure,” he shrugs, realizing that is Continue Reading »
Posted on November 19, 2012 by David Bogomolny
I shared the following vort at night seder tonight: Parshat Vayeitzei opens and closes with Ya’akov erecting a מצבה (monument) made of a single אבן (rock). These scenes beautifully bookend a significant period of Ya’akov’s life, during which he builds his family of twelve children (Binyamin hasn’t been born yet) with his two wives and their two Continue Reading »
Posted on November 9, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
Originally posted by Aryeh Ben David (Year Program ’79-’80) on the Ayeka Blog: CONTROLLING THE URGE THAT TELLS US ‘MORE IS BETTER’. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO KNOW SOMETHING? Does it mean to understand it? Does it mean to know something well enough to pass a test? Does it mean to be able to recite Continue Reading »
Posted on November 4, 2012 by David Bogomolny
I have been involved with Ayeka for more than two years now. I had the privilege of participating in two Ayeka modules facilitated by Aryeh Ben David (the first on developing a personal relationship with God, and the second on developing meaningful relationships with other people – all created in the image of God). The Continue Reading »
Posted on October 1, 2012 by David Bogomolny
I credit this quote to Dr. Viktor Frankl, having read his book (a must read), but first heard this idea from my mentor Aryeh Ben David: Source: google.com via Rocio on Pinterest To paraphrase: The only thing you can control is your attitude. Some years ago I was sitting with a teacher, learning about the fast of Continue Reading »
Posted on June 19, 2012 by Ma'ayan Dyer
(X-posted from my blog Lost in Jerusalem: http://lostjlem.blogspot.com/) Two weeks have passed since I said goodbye to Jerusalem and hello to an old familiar foe, Medford, Oregon. The job hunt continues, and the sudden realization of how far away the nearest shul is, a mere ten miles, seems as though it might as well be Continue Reading »
Posted on June 15, 2012 by Daniel Weinreb
By Daniel Weinreb, PEP ’12 “It’s so appropriate that we are in this week’s parsha…” Really? I’m skeptical. In fact, when I hear that phrase in a d’var Torah I fluff up the shoulder next to me and hit the snooze button. Why? Because I anticipate I am about to get a contrived connection between Continue Reading »
