These and Those

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

Tag Archives: hurt / pain / suffering

Honoring my Ancestors

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Eva Neuhaus

Most of my family on both sides was killed in the Holocaust and those who were left scattered all over the globe. I spent many years feeling that in order to honor my family members who were murdered, I had to suffer as well. There was a certain threshold of delight past which it felt Continue Reading »

Play-by-play:

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Sam Stern

From my blog: Tuesday (Jan 28/27 Shevat): It was a normal Tuesday evening. Finish Pardes classes at 5, frantically run to the bus stop, ride around Jerusalem for about an hour, sit through my lady learning class, talk to Rav D, go home angry. But on this particular night, I left thinking “ma nishtana ha’lila Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] “Be Strong”

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Hirsch Fishman

Daniel Shibley’s (Year ’11, Fellows ’12, Kollel ’14) post: Day in and day out in the army, somebody somewhere can be overheard delivering these two words. Often they follow a complaint about any number of potential issues or a minor injury. Frankly, there are plenty of opportunities to be on the giving and receiving end Continue Reading »

Short. Sweet?

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Sarah Pollack

From my blog: Deuteronomy 20: 19. When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them, for you may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down. Is the tree of the field a man, Continue Reading »

Two Days in Bethlehem

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Alanna Kleinman

From my blog: One week ago I spent two days in Bethlehem with a group of 15 American Jews, on a trip run by Encounter (http://www.encounterprograms.org/). Immediately after the trip, I knew I had to write about it. I won’t pretend that I can accurately convey my experience in words, or share everything with you. Continue Reading »

The Country where Christmas Wasn’t

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: On Tuesday night, I went to Bethlehem. Growing up in America, all I saw of Christmas were signs reading “Buy One get One FREE” and “Sale: 70% mark down! 5-7am only!!” All I saw was consumerism and a huge traffic jam outside of the church. But this year I’m in the Middle Continue Reading »

The Patriarch’s Plea, or: Abraham’s Moment of Doubt and Pain

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Benjamin Friedman

Performed on the Negev tiyulduring the Talent Show: I sat in fire with my faith I smashed the idols of my race I left the land of father’s rules To wander far and play the fool Against great doubts I had to fight All to be keep your vision bright To keep you fixed within Continue Reading »

Gam Zeh L’Tova

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Deborah Renert

There is a high supernal spiritual level to which various exalted Jewish spiritual personalities subscribe, such as Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. The crux of the idea i think is–is that if all comes from G-d and emanates from His Oneness, then all must necessarily be good irregardless whether we experience joy or we experience pain. Continue Reading »

Playing a game of nighttime daytime…

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Sam Stern

From my blog: This is no ordinary lamp. It once changed the course of a young man’s life. A young man, who, like this lamp, was more than what he seemed. A diamond in the rough. Yom Kippur did not bring about the fast that I had expected. During my Friday afternoon prep, I made Continue Reading »

Why accept a job that is guaranteed to break your heart?

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

Every summer when I start working with forty reform North American teenagers, I know exactly what is going to happen. I am going to pour my heart and soul into being their mechanechet (educator), taking them through Europe and Israel, into keeping them healthy, and making sure they feel loved. And when they leave five Continue Reading »