These and Those

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

Tag Archives: intention / kavanah

The Adventures of Na’omi9: Kashering our Kitchen

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Lauren Schuchart

This was originally posted on ‘Life According to Lauren’ My roommates and I decided a few weeks ago that we wanted to make our kitchen kosher. The word kosher literally means “fit,” and it refers to the Jewish dietary laws.  There are different reasons why one might choose to “keep kosher.” Here are a few Continue Reading »

The Kotel

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Laura H.

My relationship with the Kotel is in constant flux. To be honest, I struggle with connecting to the Kotel a lot, and have done so ever since I first came to Israel when I was 13 years old. Despite this struggle, every time I come to Israel, I make a point of visiting the Kotel. Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] Stand Tall

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, Tonight I am writing to you from my backyard in Toronto. It’s not exactly Jerusalem, but the weather is pleasant as the sun sets and the birds are chirping. Literally. I can’t really tell if I’m ‘acclimatized’ to Toronto – not just in the meteorological sense – but so far, so good. Now Continue Reading »

On Prayer

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Jeremy S.

I originally posted the following entry on my blog back in February: And going out to meet You, I found You coming toward me. -Yehuda Halevi (c. 1075-1141) It was my first shabbat in Jerusalem. After lunch I walked with a young aspiring rabbi to the Old City, in through the Jaffa Gate and down to Continue Reading »

[PEP Student] First Opportunities. Second Chances.

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Tamara Frankel

Dear Friends, I hope you are well, recovering from dairy-filled Shavuot meals and enjoying the beautiful weather of summer. Here in Jerusalem, summer has certainly arrived and we managed to make it through only ONE day of dairy meals on Shavuot. As some of you may know, this week was also the graduation of my Continue Reading »

על ויקרא, on vayikra

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

i was scared to begin the book of vayikra.  for that matter, others were scared for me.  sefer vayikra, which primarily deals with laws surrounding ritual purity, sacrificial offerings, as well as other priestly business, is often written-off as that dry middle section of the Torah necessary to skim through in order to get back on Continue Reading »

[Take 5] Amy Martin: How I Pray

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Joel D.

קדשים, kedoshim

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

in parshat kedoshim, God opens by instructing us we’ve got to be holy because we’ve got a holy God.  and in case you weren’t sure how one goes about behaving in a holy manner, we’re presented with a pretty length lists of do’s and don’ts.  do honor your mother and father.  don’t commit adultery.   do Continue Reading »

תצוה, tetsavveh

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

  in this week’s parsha, aharon is instructed to kindle lamps inside the אהל מעוד, the tent of meeting, to burn from evening until morning.  each night, he must light the lights and each morning, he must put out their flames as a law for all generations.  aharon, as the lamplighter of the jewish people, Continue Reading »

Family and Destiny

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Michael

My parents and brother are here now in Israel. It is awesome to be here together with them for the first time. We’ve had the opportunity to travel around Israel, especially to the south, enjoying beautiful hikes and the sunny Eilat beach. Next time you come to Israel, I definitely recommend that you hike some Continue Reading »