These and Those

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

Tag Archives: introspection

[Self / Soul & Text] Singing

Posted on March 6, 2012 by David Bogomolny

Weariness wrapped itself around him, and in moments of reflection he realized he missed his family. This was a moment of such reflection. He’d wanted to spend some time singing several days earlier, but after meditating and speaking to G-d, he’d been interupted by his roommate before he could begin his song. The interuption had Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Mindful Eating

Posted on February 28, 2012 by David Bogomolny

He sighed inwardly. It was Monday morning, and he hadn’t done his “mindful eating practice” yet. He’d been busy. Long days, full of Jewish study and prayer, were keeping him busy… but he knew also that he’d been procrastinating – he didn’t like the idea of this practice. It made him uncomfortable. He put 3 Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Hitbodidut

Posted on February 21, 2012 by David Bogomolny

Dear G-d, I’m going to write to You now to review our shared experience of the last hour. I preceded my hitbodidut discussion with a quiet meditation in the yard by my apartment. I meditated for twenty five minutes or so, and I was very pleased to find that my alarm signaled the end of Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] Spiritual Chevruta

Posted on February 14, 2012 by David Bogomolny

She was sitting on an adjacent couch, typing on her computer. Her weekly post was due, and they had completed their session within the past hour. They both thought that posting soon after their experience would be easier – while the thoughts and feelings were still fresh. Her phone rang, and she picked it up. Continue Reading »

Take a load off, Moshe!

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Andrea Wiese

I can only imagine how excited Moshe would have been this week to be reunited with his wife and two sons! Yitro, who brought Moshe’s family to him, also, like any good in-law brought advise. On the second day of Yitro’s visit, (the first day he burnt an offering to G-d) he told Moshe that Continue Reading »

[Self / Soul & Text] The Meditation Practice

Posted on February 7, 2012 by David Bogomolny

He was sitting at a cafe in Jerusalem, typing on his laptop. He had meditated for only the third time ever that same evening, and he was ready to write about the experience, but he wasn’t sure where to begin. He was overwhelmed. Life had changed for him recently, and change, especially drastic, transatlantic, soul-searching Continue Reading »

Learning Lishma

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Barer

[Cross-posted from my blog] In Jewish culture, there is a high value placed not just on learning, but on learning lishma — learning for its own sake (a source for this would be much appreciated).  This is not a familiar concept for secular academics, where knowledge gained has a practical purpose, even if that purpose Continue Reading »

The Land of my Foremother

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Leah Stern

Hello Pardesians and World, For the first time in over a decade, Pardes took a tiyyul to the city of Hevron. It was a visit filled with mixed emotions. We examined Hevron from many different angles in order to assess the situation that is in Hevron today. While there are many things I could discuss, Continue Reading »

Windows on Jerusalem

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Shibley

Throughout Jewish history, since the destruction of the Second Temple, up to the present day, Jews have longed for a return to Jerusalem. At weddings, in blessings after meals, in the t’fillot, in song, and in literature, the Jewish soul yearns for Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish universe. Two Shabbatot ago, I was in Continue Reading »

Where is my Mind(1), What is my Soul?

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Anton L. Gershteyn

PLEASE NOTE: If you are about to read this article, please listen to the two songs linked here: (First Song, Second Song) because a major part of this article is based upon your audio experience. As in many classic Jewish texts, much of the meaning is found in the footnotes (they are actually the most Continue Reading »