These and Those

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

Tag Archives: life in Israel

Love and a Pigeon

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Ten Characteristics of a Good Pigeon Handler: The pigeon handler is moderate in his disposition. A reckless pigeon handler frightens the pigeons. The pigeon handler is loyal and responsible and carries out his tasks in an orderly and punctual fashion. The pigeon handler is kindhearted and cares for each and every pigeon. Continue Reading »

Pardes According to Me

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Eva Vadasz

This blog is about my school, the purpose and the aim of my sojourn in Kookooland (for English speakers, the title of my blog is zizilend meaning kookooland). Pardes (meaning “orchard”) is a yeshiva (Hebrew school) where Jews of all backgrounds and affiliations can study their religion, at any level. In this yeshiva, boys and Continue Reading »

Old Matzah or New? Tastes the same to me…

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: “So I was walking down the sidewalk one day, and a bus hit me in the head.” Such are the stories you hear at a lunch table in Israel. But we’ll come back to that. In more recent news, I just finished celebrating my first day of Pesach in Israel. And let Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] On Pardes and Faith

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Aaron Voldman

I miss Pardes so much. As I shared with my classmates and teachers before departing, it was a dream to learn in Israel and my experience at Pardes turned out so much better than I ever anticipated! I feel very grateful to my classmates for sharing your insights in class, and for in havruta study Continue Reading »

Pardes Air Raid Drill put to music

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Hillel Buechler

From the 2013 Purim Spiel Here’s an accelerated video of Pardesniks entering and exiting the bomb shelter during our Air Raid Drill in February. The video has been put to music.

[Alumni Guest Post] First Contact

Posted on February 13, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Daniel Shibley (Fellows ’12) made Aliyah last year, and he’s just received his “tzav rishon” from the IDF… See below: B’hatzlacha, Daniel! To any Star Trek fans who might be reading, there was no alien encounter. Instead, the title refers to an important envelop that I received from the IDF, my “tzav rishon” (roughly: first order). Continue Reading »

Enfranchised

Posted on January 22, 2013 by David Bogomolny

After joining AmeriCorps, getting a graduate degree in public policy, and working for several years at the U.S. Department of Energy, I’ve developed a fascination with politics. I read a lot about U.S. politics, which I’m very familiar with, on a regular basis even though I’ve actually been living in Israel for the past several Continue Reading »

Voting in Israel

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

This morning on the street was quite like a chag / holiday. No one was working because it was election day. Most of the people who were out were on their way to vote, just like me! I didn’t actually know where the place was that I was suppose to vote, but when I arrived, Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] I also have a dream?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Dan (Year ’10) shared the following reflection on Facebook… his writing is poignant as usual! Dear MLK: from one flawed human being to another flawed human being who changed the world – how did you do it? How did you see a different reality when others said there’s no chance that it will come true? Continue Reading »

Lost (and Found) in Jerusalem

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: After seven months in the States, living a solitary Jewish lifestyle (meaning, an incredibly hollow one, sans community), day after day of ten hour shifts of packing candy on assembly lines, sitting on my tuchus in a call center selling fruit baskets and truffles to rich elderly folks, and waitressing a few Continue Reading »