These and Those

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

Tag Archives: emotions

My First Day in Israel

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Suzi

I wrote these impressions in early September (more than a month ago) after arriving in Israel… The end of a very long journey, and a long but very exciting day.  I arrived in Israel this morning, via a 12-hour stopover in London (I’ll write about that later, when I wake up).  Found my apartment, just Continue Reading »

Women and Walls

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Mary Brett Koplen

Mary Brett Koplen, Pardes Summer learner, shares her Rosh Chodesh experience with Women of the Wall. For more of Mary Brett’s writing or to see her original post, visit her website: Where the Gnome Goes (A Traveling Blog). At 6:15am, I am showered and partially coffeed. I stand on a Jerusalem street corner with my Continue Reading »

חקת, hukat

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

this parsha is one that sits heavy with death.  for one thing, early on, we get the description of what to do when one comes in contact with a dead body.  and then, as if the Torah was simply giving us the procedure in order to prepare us for what’s to come, we learn of Continue Reading »

שלח, shlech

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

once again the israelites take to complaining, railing against God, moshe, and anyone else who will listen regarding their miserable fate in the desert.  last week, it was bitter cries about the camp food, longing for the nostalgized days of the meat and fish galore in egypt.  this week, it’s fears that the people will Continue Reading »

Promises, Promises

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Aviva P.

Prior to coming to Israel, my mother tried made me promise her three things: I won’t date an Israeli I won’t move to Israel/want to make aliyah I won’t become orthodox While somehow I believed that there was no reason for my mom to be concerned (1) Israelis are difficult, 2) I liked living in Continue Reading »

Student-Selected Poems

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 »

A Touching Moment

Posted on April 9, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media

Here is a photo that student Scott Roland* took of his Talmud teacher Rabbi Zvi Hirshfield putting tefilin on his son for the first time… It was a beautiful moment: *Scott is a rabbinical student at Hebrew College. He is studying in Israel this year.

שמיני, shemini

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

following the priestly induction ceremony, the cohanim are required to camp out in the tent of meeting for seven full days.  they are warned to remain inside day and night, lest they come out and die.  what an incredibly high-pressure, terrifying way to start a new job.  this week’s parsha shmini marks the eight day Continue Reading »

Fear

Posted on March 23, 2011 by David Bogomolny

I tried to call her When I heard of the bombing The lines were busy

[Take 5] Malika Classic-Geyser: From There to Here

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Joel D.