Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on October 21, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media
Hi Everyone: Two items: The first won’t interest you unless you like at least one of the following: Design, art, architecture, technology, engineering, Jewish History, Muslim history, Jerusalem history… Houses from Within is a change to get free guided tours of homes, buildings, and major projects in Jerusalem. It’s Nov. 4 and 5, and takes Continue Reading »
Posted on October 18, 2011 by Barer
For most of college, I yearned for a strong cultural connection. My freshman year, I went to Cost Rica, and so I became fascinated with Central America. I started learning Spanish, and it was all very interesting but it wasn’t something to which I could personally connect. Then sophomore year, I took a class in Continue Reading »
Posted on October 18, 2011 by Barer
Better late than never, as they say. Words of Torah are timeless, so I hope this is just as meaningful now, even though it was given at the year-opening Shabbaton by Pardes Fellow Kalie Kelman: I guess I pulled the short straw, so I’m giving the first d’var Torah of the weekend. But I promise Continue Reading »
Posted on October 14, 2011 by Shibley
Immediately following Yom Kippur, the hammer blows could be heard echoing behind my building. I was mightily surprised when I heard those construction noises following a fast, “who could be working now?” I thought, before realizing we had begun the transition to Sukkot. All over town sukkot of all varieties began popping up on sidewalks, Continue Reading »
Posted on October 9, 2011 by Shibley
I will be the first to admit that Yom Kippur is one of my favorite days of the year. Between the liturgical poetry, the beautiful nusach, and the freedom from caring about my appearance, or physical sustenance, the experience is a catharsis of emotions and senses. Even with all of the positives, I found myself Continue Reading »
Posted on October 4, 2011 by Barer
Judaism, one could argue, is obsessed with marking time as sacred, normal, or anywhere in between. At this time which Judaism demarcates as particularly sacred — we are in the middle of the Aseret Ye’mei Teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance — it is hard not to be caught up in the spiritual fervour that Continue Reading »
Posted on September 26, 2011 by Shibley
The lead-up to Rosh Hashana is in full swing, slichot start in a few hours. Each morning except for Shabbat and erev Rosh Hashana we have heard, and will hear the blats of the shofar, it awakenings us, and reminding us of the importance of the upcoming days. Aside from intensifying the tshuva process, that Continue Reading »
Posted on September 25, 2011 by Sharon G.
Posted on September 22, 2011 by Shibley
Late last month I realized that I needed to purchase some basic school supplies. In the States, I imagine that CVS (among other stores) are still loaded with all sorts of back to school supplies, deals, tchochkies, lunch boxes, etc… Of course in CVS the back to school displays begin on July 5th and once Continue Reading »
Posted on September 22, 2011 by Barer
This week’s parsha is a short one (though on non-leap years it is read in conjunction with the next parsha), that reads more as a concluding statement on all of the activity of last week’s blessings-and-curses-filled parsha than anything else. A number of famous refrains are in this parsha, most notably the idea that the Continue Reading »
