These and Those

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

Tag Archives: hurt / pain / suffering

On Those We Love

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Tadea Klein

My dvar Torah from the Galil Shabbaton: First of all, I would like to thank Adam Masser (Spring ’12, Year ’13), who gave me the perfect set up — and we didn’t even plan it. I also am going to talk about lashon ha-rah, specifically the consequences of it. I believe that the most telling Continue Reading »

Ghosts in the night

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Abayiss

Tonight is the night.   No, I am not OK. No, you can not help. No, you do not understand. No, I am not alone.   Tonight is the night I dread all year. All the ghosts that have been pushed into the shadows (with the exception of the occasional visit) come out. Tonight is their Continue Reading »

In Pain, but Numb.

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: Monday was my second Yom HaShoah in Israel. I was standing in the middle of the partition in the road on Rivkah and Pierre Koenig to get a good view of the people stopping their cars and getting out to pay their respects to the dead when the wail of the memorial Continue Reading »

The Sirens Blared

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Heather Kantrowitz

From my blog: There are certain moments in my life where everything has come to a screeching halt. Most of these have just been moments when my personal world, or maybe my family or community, has stopped. Today (Yom HaShoah), I experienced an entire country ceasing all activity – learning, work, driving, shopping – and Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Reflections on Psalm 16 – Psalm One of the Tikkun HaClali

Posted on April 8, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rabbi Brent Spodek (Year ’01) reflects upon the Role of Pain: We fear pain. We fear events that twist our hopes, catastrophes that strain our bodies, indignities that weary our spirit. When we suffer, our pain becomes all we can see, so that the best we can do is grind on, endure, make it from Continue Reading »

The only way to leave mitzraim is out of love

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen

From my blog: When I asked him why he made the haggadah he took a step back and gave me a weird shocked face, and said, “no one has asked me that question.” I also looked surprised, “no one has ever asked you why you wanted to make a haggadah?” He replied, “Well, not tonight.” Continue Reading »

Dare I Rant?

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: I am usually a very tolerant person, especially when people are trying to understand human diversity. I will kindly explain that, no, Connecticut is not New York and that, yes, I would rather watch reruns of “Gilmore Girls” than new episodes of “Jersey Shore.” I will gladly explain that I would much Continue Reading »

Gemara and roses

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

This wound This wound. Hurts. I look but can’t find it Hiding under layers of scar. Will it hurt more to hold it open to light? I blow on it. Blow away dust. Reveal the bones. Step through the field; take the unclean road. For the sake of dignity, I sing in the dark and Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Brokenness and Radiance by Heather Kantrowitz

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Heather Kantrowitz

Parshat Ki Tissa contains a myriad of events, most notably, the incident of the Golden Calf. When Moses descends Mount Sinai after 40 days and nights in preparation for receiving the 10 Commandments, he discovers the people dancing around this molten calf. He then “hurled the tablets from his hand and shattered them at the Continue Reading »

He Left Words on a Page

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: I was in the middle of writing another post, but this one needed to come out first. I spent all day hiding these words inside – please read them now and know. As many of you know, there was a shooting yesterday in College Park, MD. It was a small shooting. Only Continue Reading »