These and Those

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

Tag Archives: holidays

A different view of fasting

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Andrea Wiese

As most Jews know, the High Holidays are quickly approaching, and with that is Yom Kippur, a 24 hour fast day with no food or water (or coffee). And for me, with it comes dread. I just don’t like it, I get a headache, it’s uncomfortable, etc. Technically we’re not suppose to wear make up Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] The Four Faces of ט”ו בשבט (Tu B’Shvat)

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Cheryl Stone

Check out THIS POST to see photos of the AMAZING new mural at Pardes! The first annual Yom Iyun envisioned, planned, run, and taught by the Pardes Educators Program took place on ט”ו בשבט 5771/2011. Facilitating both formal and experiential sessions, the Educators focused on the four גלגולים – embodiments or incarnations – that the Continue Reading »

Shavuot: a Temple Holiday without a Temple

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Zach

I know a lot of my posts have been about how holidays are celebrated in Israel, but I hope you’ll bear with me through one more.  I promise, no more! Last week we celebrated Shavu’ot – the “Festival of Weeks” and the forerunner to Christian Pentecost.  Like most Jewish holidays, it was originally an agricultural Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] First Opportunities. Second Chances.

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I hope you are well, recovering from dairy-filled Shavuot meals and enjoying the beautiful weather of summer. Here in Jerusalem, summer has certainly arrived and we managed to make it through only ONE day of dairy meals on Shavuot. As some of you may know, this week was also the graduation of my Continue Reading »

בהעלותך, beha’alotekha

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

this week, God instructs moshe to put into place a sound system in order to summon the community and gather the troops.  with two different trumpets at their disposal, God establishes a morse code used for relaying information.  two trumpets/long blast:  everyone gather around.  one trumpet/long blast:  just the chiefs.  one set of short blasts:  Continue Reading »

Memorial Day and Yom HaZikkaron

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Zach

Earlier this week, I was talking with a friend who works for an American company, and she mentioned that she had a day off.  I was confused for a minute, since she works all the time.  Then she reminded me that it was Memorial Day in the US.  Having just recently witnessed the the big Continue Reading »

Jerusalem Day

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Pious Antic

Yom Yerushalayim, which was observed this week, celebrates the reunification of the old city of Jerusalem under Jewish control in 1967, after 19 years in which the city was divided between Jewish and Arab control. Unsurprisingly, given the historical, political and moral complexity of the events it commemorates, Yom Yerushalayim is not a universally beloved Continue Reading »

‘Stach Sunday

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Aviva P.

In honor of Lag B’Omer and finally being able to shave after 33 days, some of the men of Pardes had a little fun with their facial hair growth…

Modern Days

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Shibley

The time between Pesach and Shavuot is marked in Israel with four modern holidays. Yom Hashoa, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Haatzmaut, and Yom Yerushalayim. Colloquially, this time of year is called y’mei yamim. The days of days. It has been an incredible experience to watch Israel move from Pesach into these modern celebrations. Israeli flags adorn Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] From the Mountain Top…

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, This past Monday I visited Mount Herzl in Jerusalem with my classmates to commemorate Yom Hazikaron, Israel Remembrance Day. We visited the graves of young soldiers who had fallen recently and those of heroic figures like Hannah Senesh. Many questions raced through my mind as we walked among the graves: Where am I Continue Reading »