These and Those

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

Tag Archives: holidays

[PEP Student] Kiddush Hashem (Sanctific​ation of God’s Name) Today

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I feel very privileged to write to you today after my first week back at Pardes. On numerous occasions this week, I have been reminded of the incredible blessing to learn Torah full time, from such dedicated and wise teachers and classmates, and of course, in my beloved Jerusalem. And yet, this week Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Ascent After Exodus

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Moadim l’simcha! (This is a special greeting for the interim days-chol hamoed-between the Yom Tov at the beginning and end of Pesach, or Sukkot.) I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the crunchy taste of matzah this Passover. I was fortunate to spend the Seder with my friends and my sister Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Parshat Achrei Mot & Shabbat HaGadol

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Believe it or not – I’m in Jerusalem! And although I’m tempted to take a nap before Shabbat comes in, I felt it would be a bad way to start off my “spring season” of learning. So, I did some reading on the plane and managed to read over the parsha and special Continue Reading »

Timed

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Shibley

Some contemporary halakhic debates about prayer are often couched in language of obligation and time-caused mitzvot. Usually we see such language when discussing the role of women inside the halakhic framework. Wrapped into the discussion of time are “halakhic hours” by which we measure the day, which becomes especially critical when discussion t’fillah. Another language Continue Reading »

Just Had Chametz

Posted on April 15, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media

Alum Ari Berkowicz (2009-10) made this great Pesach music video!

Universal Liberation or Universal Cleaning?

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Shibley

Passover is rapidly approaching. Next Monday, across the world Jews of all denominations and traditions will sit down to festive seder meals. In only one country, however, is Passover cleaning a universal activity. Yes, there are plenty of secular Israelis who take their toothbrushes to the grout between their kitchen tiles. Cleaning products are flying Continue Reading »

[Take 5] Michael Kleinman: Carlebach Abridged

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Joel D.

[Alumni Guest Post] Hametz Prayers

Posted on April 11, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media

Below is a guest post from 2 Pardes alumni: Rabbi Jon Kelsen & Dena Weiss are both alumni of the Pardes kollel program. Jon teaches at the Drisha Institute, and Dena teaches at Yeshivat Hadar. Together in chevruta, Jon & Dena wrote two prayers, in anticipation of bedikat / biur hametz this year. Here is their explanation. (read Continue Reading »

What I learned at Pardes This Week (#2)

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Pious Antic

In my halakha (Jewish Law) class last semester, we looked at a piece of gemara in which one rabbi asserts that an averah (sin) which is done for the sake of heaven (lishmah) is superior to a mitzvah (a good deed) that is done not for the sake of heaven. It is then countered that Continue Reading »

Purim Rap – Never Gets Old!

Posted on March 20, 2011 by David Bogomolny

This never gets old: Pardes Alumnus Matt Bar‘s Purim Rap with a R. Zvi Hirschfield cameo 🙂