Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on July 31, 2014 by Amanda Pogany
It’s been 12 years since we lost our friends Ben and Marla and this day never seems to get easier. I dread July 31st. Every year I hope that somehow we will transition from July 30 directly to August 1st. And somehow this year feels harder. Knowing that we are back in a moment of Continue Reading »
Posted on June 20, 2014 by Hannah Joy
From my blog: I’ve been back for almost two weeks now, and I already miss everything: the Hebrew, Egged bus drivers, taxi drivers, “shabbat shaloms” from cashiers, always available shwarma, everything about Pardes, and so much more. Though I must say, I have never so appreciated the orderly lines and hassle-free grocery shopping at Shoppers Continue Reading »
Posted on February 4, 2013 by Stu Jacobs
The year after Ben and Marla were killed was a year of mourning for our whole community, even for those, like me, who never had the pleasure of meeting them. The first Yom Iyun shel Chesed enabled us to come together and celebrate the lives of two fellow students by creating something positive from the Continue Reading »
Posted on January 27, 2013 by Laura H.
Dear Marla and Ben: I feel connected to you even though I never knew you. The moment that you were killed was a powerful moment in my own personal narrative relating to Israel. I was scheduled to come to Israel for a semester of high school in the fall of 2002. All summer, I was Continue Reading »
Posted on January 1, 2013 by Derek Kwait
When it came to picking out a college and a major, Mike knew he wanted to work with numbers and that he wanted to do something practical. So he searched and weighed the available data: He looked into economics but found it boring. He looked into physics, but thought it just wasn’t for him, then Continue Reading »
Posted on January 1, 2013 by Lauren Schuchart
From my blog: “The best way to fight evil is to do good… and to improve as best as we can, a small corner of our world” Video about the annual Yom Iyyun Shel Chessed Yesterday was our school’s annual Yom Iyyun Shel Chessed (Day of Loving-Kindness). The day is in loving memory of two Continue Reading »
Posted on December 2, 2012 by Falynn Schmidt
Originally posted on my blog: Years ago I heard comedian Yisrael Campbell give his shpiel about converting to Judaism. It is hilariously funny in the way that can only come from truths. In one part, the rabbis ask him, “Do you put your lot in with the Jewish people.” “Sure,” he shrugs, realizing that is Continue Reading »
Posted on March 6, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart
Originally posted here: Last Wednesday, my school held its annual Yom Iyyun Shel Chesed (Day of Kindness). This special day is held in the memory of Marla Bennett and Ben Blutstein, z”l, who were killed in a suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem in 2002. Marla and Ben were both students at Pardes, pursuing their dreams Continue Reading »
Posted on March 4, 2012 by Derek Kwait
When I woke up to a snowstorm this morning, I was so happy I could dance. It wasn’t just snow, it was big-flaked, sticky snow, the kind you could make snowballs out of were there enough of it, and it looked for all the world like there would be before too long. I grabbed my Continue Reading »
Posted on February 29, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
Today is the annual Pardes Yom Iyum shel Chesed – the Day of Kindness in commemoration of Benjamin Blutstein and Marla Bennett. In a few minutes, the entire Pardes community is going out to do service throughout Israel in honor of these two amazing individuals whose lives were cut so short.
