These and Those

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

Tag Archives: graduation

Permission to be Yourself

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Dorielle Parker

The year is 1994. It’s a warm September morning in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and sounds of the DJ on the radio and a mother’s smooch on my forehead escort me into my first day of school. The kindergarten classroom is inviting, and my teachers seem nice enough. As I am brought to a wooden cubby Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Beloved Ben and Marla: Teaching for their Memory

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Amanda Pogany

It’s been 12 years since we lost our friends Ben and Marla and this day never seems to get easier. I dread July 31st. Every year I hope that somehow we will transition from July 30 directly to August 1st. And somehow this year feels harder. Knowing that we are back in a moment of Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Bring Forth the Goodness

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Carolyn Gerecht

My dvar Torah from PCJE graduation: To commemorate the last day of our Gemara class this year with Rahel, we looked together at a special passage from Masechet Avoda Zara, Daf Yud Tet, Amud Alef. In the passage, Levi and Rabbi Shimon are studying together with Rah-bee. When they finish the text, Levi demands that Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Who is Brave, not Crazy?

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Cara Abrams-Simonton

My PCJE graduation speech: Good evening. It is an honor to stand before you today as I graduate from the Pardes Educators Program. Over the past two years I have been privileged to study in this very Beit Midrash and in the classrooms of Pardes. In this room I have fallen in love with text Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Upon my exit

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Tani Cohen-Fraade

My PCJE graduation speech: I would like to speak for a few minutes about the Bet Midrash here at Pardes, the room in which we are now gathered. Over at least the last two years, we have spent countless hours every week studying texts and discussing them with our hevrutot and teachers. For many of Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Chazak V’Ematz

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Heather Kantrowitz

My PCJE graduation speech: Chazak V’Ematz – Be strong and resolute. These are the words that Yehoshua spoke to Bnei Yisrael upon entering the land of Israel thousands of years ago. Today, I speak these words to my friends and peers as we prepare to enter new territory – the land of teaching. This fall, Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Three are the Mamas

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Andrea Wiese

My PCJE graduation speech: My dvar Torah is based on “threes”…for example, As the third speaker, I have 3 minutes to sum up my three years at Pardes.  So let’s not waste any time. Four years ago when I came to Pardes for the first time, I sat in on Tovah Leah’s Personalizing Prayer class. Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Learn Torah, Learn Torah, Learn Torah, Learn Torah…

Posted on June 6, 2014 by AdAm Mayer

My PCJE graduation speech: Thank you to all of my most amazing and wonderful peers and colleagues. You all have inspired me and taught me so much! Thank you to Judy, Gail, and all the incredible and supportive faculty, mentors and teachers at Pardes! You are true enablers! And Thank you to my wife Chana Continue Reading »

[PCJE Graduation] Bursting in Song

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Laura Marder

My PCJE graduation speech: How do you take a moment to realize that you “made it” and include others with you in your joy? When I first arrived here at Pardes to embark on this journey I was terrified. Completely unsure if I would make it to the other side. Then something switched inside of Continue Reading »

[PEP Graduation ’13] And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Hannah Perlis

Here’s my Dvar from last week’s PEP Graduation! Ralph Wiggum from The Simpsons once said, “When I grow up I wanna be a Principal or a Caterpillar.” When I was younger I thought I wanted to be a supermarket cashier because you get to stand near the candy all day. I learned a lot about Continue Reading »