These and Those

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

Tag Archives: friends

Jerusalem: Pulled to a Place

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Shanee Michaelson

During the summer of 2011, I was a recovering attorney who had just completed a year teaching in Jewish early childhood education. I felt a calling towards deepening my own formal Jewish education and learned at Pardes for 3 weeks. I was exposed to the tip of an iceberg of knowledge of every imaginable sort. Continue Reading »

Not a Hypothetical Situation

Posted on December 14, 2012 by David Bogomolny

We spent last Shabbat with a friend and his partner. He is a Jewish convert who is currently not halakhically observant, but his Jewish identity is very important to him, and his attitude towards Jewish tradition and halakha is very respectful. His partner is a woman whose father is halakhically Jewish, but she is not halakhically Jewish herself. Therefore, she must go through Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Posted on December 10, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

It’s kinda funny for us to think of Megan Dyer (Spring ’12) as an alum because she’s coming back to Pardes in January… Nonetheless, here is another “alumni” guest post from Megan! We’re looking forward to her continued blogging when she returns home to Jerusalem! A couple of weeks ago, I posted in this very Continue Reading »

Struggle is a Shared Value

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Kayla Higgins

(Cross-posted from Interfaith Youth Core) I had just taken my first bite of lunch when I suddenly saw everyone around me stand up and head for the front door. I hadn’t even heard the siren. I put my sandwich down and joined my fellow classmates filing into the bomb shelter, where we gathered for ten Continue Reading »

במדבר

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart

Originally posted on my blog: “The desert, when the sun comes up… I couldn’t tell where Heaven stopped and the Earth began. It was so beautiful.” -Forrest Gump Here are some pictures from my school’s trip to the Negev desert two weeks ago. (Pictures are better quality if you click on them!) Israel, you are Continue Reading »

O-bla-di, O-bla-da

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart

Originally posted on my blog: (from yesterday) Today is Thanksgiving! After the last few days, I am even more grateful for all of the blessings that I have in my life. With thanks to God for FAMILY (and Skype technology), amazing FRIENDS near and far, a wonderful and supportive community here in Israel, a hope Continue Reading »

Narrow Bridge

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart

Originally posted on my blog: “You’re worried? You don’t need to be worried. The rockets can’t reach Jerusalem,” they said. “You don’t feel safe in Tel-Aviv? Come stay with us for Shabbat,” we said. “No, Mom, I’m fine. Jerusalem is out of the range of the rockets. Don’t worry,” I said. Yesterday was Friday. I Continue Reading »

Going down the mountain with Sam.

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Adam L Masser

Ein Gedi, freshwater spring of legend, sanctuary of David. In the scorching desert, the Negev. In the mountains above Yam HaMelach, the Dead Sea, the burning sea of salt. Sam, falling down while climbing out of a gorge carved in a high, rocky outcropping, its steep chutes formed by the rains of a geologic epoch. Continue Reading »

Why I’m Not Making Aliyah

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Derek Kwait

“Oh, so you’ve been here [almost a year/two years]! So are you planning on making aliyah?,” they say, bearing their teeth and gently lifting their eyebrows in anticipation of the upcoming hearty “Mazel tov!” they’re sure to owe me. “No.” “Oh,” this is less an expression than the sound a face makes as it falls. Continue Reading »

Falling in love with Tel Aviv

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Cara Abrams-Simonton

Originally posted on my blog: So there is this thing. Tel Aviv vs. Jerusalem- and I’d say probably the majority of your average secular Israelis would say Tel Aviv, hands down. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m in love with Jerusalem… there is incredible history, beauty and complexity here. But there is something else going Continue Reading »