These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Marc Chagall

Over and Under

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Jeff Amshalem

From my blog: A short teaching from R. Uziel Meizlish, Tiferes Uziel, Parshat Miketz ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים ופרעה חולם והנה עומד על היאור וגו’. פרעה אמר בסיפור חלומו שעומד על שפת היאור. וקשה הא בחלום עצמו כתיב שעומד על היאור ולא על שפת. ואפשר שזה הרשע שינה במכוון כי היאור היה אלהיו כידוע מאמרם ז”ל שהרשעים Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Finding Blessing in Struggle

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Dita Ribner Cooper

During a hike outside of Jerusalem on our first Pardes shabbaton I found myself walking behind two people that had just met. Like all first meetings go, they each introduced themselves, asked where the other was from, and where the other person was living during his/her year in Pardes. It was the beginning of what Continue Reading »

And the LORD appeared to whom?

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Jeff Amshalem

From my blog: From Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev Kedushas Levi, Perushei Aggadot When you say the words of the living God in studying Torah, or engage in the holy work of prayer, you should intend to cleave to the blessed Creator. But you must consider the question, how can a person of flesh and blood cleave Continue Reading »

The World is a Mirror

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Jeff Amshalem

From my blog: A nugget from Zeev Wolf of Zhitomir, from Or haMeir on Parshat Naso Everywhere you happen to look and everything you happen to see, even the ugly and the coarse, you should understand that it was not for nothing that God showed you this thing.  Rather, it is because you yourself have some lack Continue Reading »

Face to Face at Sinai

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jeff Amshalem

From my blog: Two brief teachings by R. Kalonymus Kalman HaLevi Epstein on Shavuot, excerpted from Maor vaShamesh ויחן שם ישראל נגד ההר And Israel camped there under the mountain. Exodus 19:2 Rashi points out that ‘camped’ is in the singular, and explains they camped there ‘as one person with one heart.’ To receive the Continue Reading »

Wearing Holy-Glasses

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Jeff Amshalem

From my blog: A teaching from Zeev Wolf of Zhitomir, Or Hameir, Parshat Kedoshim.  וַיְדַבֵּר יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר: דַּבֵּר אֶל כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם God spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all of Israel and say to them, ‘Be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’”Leviticus 19:1-2 Continue Reading »

49 Steps

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jeff Amshalem

From my blog: Excerpts from R. Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir’s teachings on Counting the Omer, from Or haMeir. וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת עֹמֶר הַתְּנוּפָה שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת Count for yourselves, from the morrow of the rest day from the day you bring the omer as a wave offering, seven weeks. Leviticus 23:16 The essence of Continue Reading »

Amazing day at the Hadassah Medical Centre Ein Kerem!

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Stuart Matan Lithwick

Hello Pardes! If anyone has not yet visited the Hadassah Medical Centre at Ein Kerem it is an absolute must! I had a personal reason to visit the hospital this morning. In 2006 I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic blindness disorder, during a routine visit to the Optometrist’s office. Since that time, doctors Continue Reading »

the layers come off

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen

From my blog: The layers come off Did that grab your attention? Well don’t get too excited, sorry to disappoint. I was bracing my self for that cold shock on my face, but I got off the bus, and the sun hit my face. Oh hello sun! I walked to a coffee shop (duh) and Continue Reading »