Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on January 16, 2012 by Aliza B.
I think it was during high school that Rabbi Gabi Meyer came to Boulder, and spoke about his work creating peace in Israel. I remember being enthralled. He is an incredible being. I remember that at the shul, there were Hebrew speakers and Spanish speakers and English speakers and he was going back and forth Continue Reading »
Posted on January 7, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
All week I had been excited to spend my Shabbat in the “Gush” with two of my teachers. They always have students in their homes for Shabbat, and the anticipation had been building since I heard about other students wonderful experiences. We (Hannah, Yishai, and Amber) left Jerusalem around 1:30, which was way too early, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 2, 2011 by Derek Kwait
(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) Americans living in Israel typically celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday night for Shabbat dinner, as the old joke goes, there is second day of Yom Tov in the Diaspora. Since the tiyyul made celebrating on Thursday impossible for most of us, my friend Michael (pronounced מיכאל, “Mee-kha-el”) treated Continue Reading »
Posted on November 29, 2011 by Barer
I recently overheard, and then jumped into, a conversation in the halls of Pardes (a truly wonderful place) about whether the experience of suffering placed an extra burden on the sufferers to better act to prevent further suffering. In practical parlance, the common argument goes: ‘Jews suffered immeasurably during the Holocaust (and throughout their history) Continue Reading »
Posted on November 23, 2011 by Lauren Schuchart
“Sleep less, do more…and have the courage to fail.” -Rabbi Levi Lauer Every Tuesday at Pardes, we have a school-wide learning session, where a faculty member or guest lecturer speaks about a “critical issue” facing the community. Last week, we heard from Rabbi Levi Lauer, a past dean of Pardes and the current executive director and Continue Reading »
Posted on January 27, 2011 by Avi Strausberg
this week’s parsha entitled mishpatim translates to law in english. and this parsha is aptly titled as the bulk of the parsha is a long, long list of rules that it is quite easy to get lost in. topics covered include but are not limited to goring oxes, tunneling thieves, uncovered pits, and virgin-seducers. but, Continue Reading »
Posted on November 21, 2010 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, Today, I am inspired to write by two of my dear friends and beloved chevrutot (learning partners): Merissa Nathan Gerson and Dana Adler. Thank you Merissa and Dana! Last week’s parsha, Vayishlach, is filled with a lot of difficult questions and interactions. To name a few: Yaakov wrestles with an angel and is Continue Reading »
Posted on October 28, 2010 by Mosheh
It’s been recently pointed out to me that there is a tradition of doing netilat yadayim (ritual hand washing and blessing) before prayer, just as we do before eating bread. Apparently, it is not so common for people to follow this custom, which is why I hadn’t noticed it before, but it does exist. Moreover, Continue Reading »
