Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Rosh Chodesh Adar is almost over, but Purim is coming soon! A Provocative Purim Poem by Sara Brandes (Year ’01, Fellows ’02, Elul ’05) ENJOY! Rabbi Sara Brandes lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband Hyim, and two children, Michal (5) and Gavi (2). She is West Coast Regional Director at Moving Traditions, and Continue Reading »
Posted on February 5, 2013 by Abayiss
I sit on a hill, overlooking Gaza Strip, so near yet so far. It seems almost peaceful. No planes in the air, no fires, no pillars of smoke. Just the sound of vehicles on the highway below. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was looking at another Israeli town. You’d think there was Continue Reading »
Posted on January 31, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert
This week’s parsha, Yitro, mentions Moses’ father-in-law (known by seven names in Tanakh.) In Yitro, he swoops in, Jean-Luc Picard style, to teach Moses how to delegate and manage his community more efficiently and then swoops out again. This midrash was written at Pardes in 2009-2010 and tells the story of their meeting and how their Continue Reading »
Posted on January 25, 2013 by Laurie Franklin
Tu Bshvat Today, I said I want to be a Redwood. I want to be big, too big to ignore, A wonder, Almost immortal. I want hugs, lots of them, ya know like when people hold hands to circle your trunk. My fellow Levites got it. They surrounded me with hugs. Two hours later, Psalms Continue Reading »
Posted on January 22, 2013 by Laurie Franklin
Bread and gold,These, we carry.One soft, dull, absorbent.One hard, shining, reflective.Can I buy bread with gold?Can I get gold with bread?Is this bracelet a trap or a wheel?What will carry us?
Posted on January 20, 2013 by Mary Brett Koplen
A post from my Cowbird in honor of the new semester: Early on the third day, the sun comes over the houses to the east of us. I open my eyes, kick sticky blankets to the floor. How was last night so cold? The glass on my window is hot when I touch it. My Continue Reading »
Posted on January 13, 2013 by Shanee Michaelson
This is a poem inspired by what I’ve been learning in Daniel Roth’s Chumash / Mediation class. I read it on our last day of class this semester. Abraham’s Family (a prose poem) Isaac have I loved for he has filled my days with laughter and through him God heard my cry giving me a Continue Reading »
Posted on January 8, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen
From my blog (10/30/13): I shall follow the truths i do know to find direction to the big questions that I do not know the answers to. So here I am, Heneni, I have Been living in Jerusalem for 4 months now. The last month and a half, I have hoped to put those questions Continue Reading »
Posted on January 7, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen
From my blog: the moment i knew i would be ok I walked across the street leaving the bench where I sat to give my feet a rest from my blisters I feel you again, that constant “what the !! are you doing next year?” as we brought the new year an hour prior, it Continue Reading »
Posted on January 6, 2013 by Mary Brett Koplen
A story from my Cowbird: On the sidewalk H squints at the passing buses, trying to read their destinations as they motion quickly towards the places they will go. I pretend to help, but the combination of foreign characters and moving vehicles spins my head. “You’ll learn the language soon,” H says to me smiling. Continue Reading »
