Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 23, 2012 by aliza
This semester I am taking a course in Peace and Conflict. Recently we have been talking about the power of narrative to color, and help resolve conflict. The challenge is always to understand the narrative of both sides so well that you see them in their highest light. In order to begin this work, we Continue Reading »
Posted on February 21, 2012 by Leah Stern
This was it. This was the part of the trip that I had most been afraid of. I had always been afraid of visiting this place, it was part of the reason I had delayed going to Poland until now. The name that is engraved on the heart of every Jew: Auschwitz. I have always Continue Reading »
Posted on January 26, 2012 by Anton L. Gershteyn
2 minutes ago one of my most beloved friends, Alexander Zaitzev died. 23 years old. Sasha was one of the most reasonable, kind and open-hearted human beings I met in my life. Sasha was humble, but eager to fight for justice, loving and caring. He did not need any religion or any God to Continue Reading »
Posted on January 12, 2012 by Soffer
Originally posted here. This week we begin the book of Shemot. What is fascinating about how most students learn this narrative is that before even reading the text for the first time, they have already been taught the outcome. Inevitably, the tragedy of Jewish enslavement seems less severe, because the student understands slavery is the Continue Reading »
Posted on January 11, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart
Originally posted here. Teach me and instruct me how to behave with all people in the world so that I may merit being in peace with all, even with those who disagree with me, And so that I should merit to always be a lover of peace,and a pursuer of peace As it is Continue Reading »
Posted on December 7, 2011 by Aliza B.
When you watch the news and learn that something terrible has happened, it is easy to gauge the disaster by how many people were killed. You can classify it even more by which people were affected. Were they children or elderly? Poor or rich? Humanitarians or average joes? In the back of your mind lurks Continue Reading »
Posted on December 4, 2011 by Eliyahu B.
(Thanks to Falynn for asking me to post this) I gave this dvar tzedek in my Social Justice class a few months ago. I hope it is meaningful for everyone: A fundamental tenet of social justice, to me, is equality. I believe that equality is a natural human right which should always be found among Continue Reading »
Posted on November 29, 2011 by Barer
I recently overheard, and then jumped into, a conversation in the halls of Pardes (a truly wonderful place) about whether the experience of suffering placed an extra burden on the sufferers to better act to prevent further suffering. In practical parlance, the common argument goes: ‘Jews suffered immeasurably during the Holocaust (and throughout their history) Continue Reading »
Posted on November 6, 2011 by The Director of Digital Media
Guest Post: Dvar Torah by Pardes Alumnus Rabbi Peter Stein The Torah is a book that explores what it means to be human. The Book of Genesis, especially, presents story after story that delves into the pain and joy and messiness of the human condition. In this week’s parshah, we read about Sarai, our ancestor, and Continue Reading »
Posted on May 4, 2011 by Avi Strausberg
in parshat emor, God instructs moshe regarding all the rules and regulations that distinguish the life of a cohen from that of an ordinary bnei israel. and these rules are not to be taken lightly. the cohen gadol (high priest), in order to maintain his ritual purity, is unable to be around the deceased bodies Continue Reading »
