These and Those

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

Tag Archives: identity and/or self

Bound. because I Want to.

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Sam Kaye

I’m leaving for Israel and my father hands me two bags. “Take these with you. The furrier, Shlomo, your great grandmother’s brother-in-law, left them to me. Find out if it’s meaningful for you.” The first is black felt, light to the touch, with a golden Magen David embroidered in cord on its front. The Tallit Continue Reading »

A Letter to Iran…

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Joseph Shamash

One Wish Jerusalem was inspired by a video made by an Iranian filmmaker Ali Molavi. To see his video click here. This is the letter I sent him and his subsequent response after seeing our video:

[Alumni Guest Post] Educating my Jewish Daughter by Whitney Fisch

Posted on April 5, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Whitney Fisch (Year 2008-09) shares a personal challenge of hers, regarding the role of women in Judaism: Whitney Fisch grew up within the Reform movement in Marietta, GA. She started her career in Jewish communal work at the University of Georgia Hillel as the Jewish Student Life Coordinator, which led her to other positions in Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Emly Oren

Posted on March 28, 2013 by David Bogomolny

Emly Oren left Israel with her family at the age of four, but in many ways Israel never left her family. At school in Orange County, Emly was the only Israeli student; but her family continued to speak Hebrew at home, and they only watched Israeli television programs. The Orens would travel to Israel every Continue Reading »

Freedom For Girls

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Heather Kantrowitz

From my blog: I would like to take this opportunity to wish girls and women everywhere a happy Passover – a Passover that is filled with freedom. Freedom from “I’m not good enough” and “why doesn’t he* like me.” Freedom from wanting your life to be like a T-Swift love song, freedom from not “going Continue Reading »

Returning in Choice (חוזר בבחירה)

Posted on March 19, 2013 by David Bogomolny

“I assume that you’d consider yourself a ḥozer beteshuva, right?” As somebody who was raised by parents who self-identify as traditional, ḥiloni Jews, and chose himself to live a life committed to and guided by halakha, I’ve come to expect some form of this question from people in conversations about Jewish faith and practice. But this term Continue Reading »

‘Rodef Shalom’ Pilot Program for Hillel Professionals

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Leah Kahn

Leah Kahn is a Campus Professional Fellow within The Pardes Center for Judaism and Conflict Resolution, a current student within the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators and former Director of Engagement, University of Chicago Hillel from 2005-2011. I know from firsthand experience that Hillel professionals are very busy managing multiple projects at once and don’t Continue Reading »

What’s in a (Jewish) name?

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: With the tenth of February just around the corner, it’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Israel for a month already. I have big plans for my time abroad, and while I’ve mostly been happily consumed with Jewish studies at Pardes, I feel like there’s still just so much for me Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Tricky Number Ten

Posted on February 6, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rachel Bikofsky (Summer ’12) wrote a reflection on last week’s Parshat Hashavuah (Parshat Yitro). We could all stand to take this lesson from her book: As parshiot go, this past week’s–Yitro–was a Big One.  Amid tremendous spectacle at Mt. Sinai, Hashem revealed to the Israelites the Ten Commandments.  Although the rest of the Torah would not be Continue Reading »

Soul Surviving in Jerusalem

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: It appears that I may have two souls. My first soul isn’t sure how it feels about this. Previously, it was always the center of attention, benefiting from activities that are “good for the soul” – like yoga, baking and writing (note that I said soul, not souls). Now, however, it appears that Continue Reading »