Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on June 19, 2012 by Ma'ayan Dyer
(X-posted from my blog Lost in Jerusalem: http://lostjlem.blogspot.com/) Two weeks have passed since I said goodbye to Jerusalem and hello to an old familiar foe, Medford, Oregon. The job hunt continues, and the sudden realization of how far away the nearest shul is, a mere ten miles, seems as though it might as well be Continue Reading »
Posted on June 14, 2012 by Jessie Gindea
By Jessie Gindea, PEP ’12 What an evening this is. As I look around this Beit Midrash, surrounded by my brilliant teachers, my esteemed colleagues, and all of the people who have effected my experience in the last two years, it seems only natural to turn to psalms 133, verse 1: “Hiney mah tov umah Continue Reading »
Posted on May 28, 2012 by Derek Kwait
(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) This week really started last Shabbat afternoon as I sat in a corner of the Tayelet (promenade overlooking the Old City and East Jerusalem) reading the opening chapters of James Carroll’s Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Carroll begins the book by discussing the tension between the two Jerusalems, the earthly Continue Reading »
Posted on May 23, 2012 by Shanee Michaelson
I find myself counting down to Shabbat this week, longing for that peacefulness and a little time to rest. Here’s a poem I wrote a few years ago that was originally published in Hazon He-ATID, the Friday Night Live prayer book of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. shabbat shalom on nights when the air is Continue Reading »
Posted on April 22, 2012 by Laura H.
There is a great deal of contrast in the types of graves we are seeing in Poland. Today, we went to Belsec, where even in the mid-1990s, there were still bones visible on the earth. The memorial there is cut into the shallow hill of the camps – into the mass grave. We spoke about Continue Reading »
Posted on February 21, 2012 by Leah Stern
This was it. This was the part of the trip that I had most been afraid of. I had always been afraid of visiting this place, it was part of the reason I had delayed going to Poland until now. The name that is engraved on the heart of every Jew: Auschwitz. I have always Continue Reading »
Posted on February 16, 2012 by Aliza B.
Today I had the most wonderful pleasure–I got to read from the Torah in the Egalitarian Minyan at Pardes. It happened almost by accident. As the gabbait for the minyan, I neglected to ask people to read earlier in the week. Last night, when I realized my mistake, I decided to just learn it myself. Continue Reading »
Posted on February 12, 2012 by Derek Kwait
(X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) Some of my fondest Jewish childhood memories are of Tu B’Shvat. Every year in Sunday School, we at Beth Israel Center threw a huge seder, with tens of species of exotic and familiar fruits, and a student-made Hagadda. Every year I looked forward to watching the grape Continue Reading »
Posted on January 26, 2012 by Anton L. Gershteyn
2 minutes ago one of my most beloved friends, Alexander Zaitzev died. 23 years old. Sasha was one of the most reasonable, kind and open-hearted human beings I met in my life. Sasha was humble, but eager to fight for justice, loving and caring. He did not need any religion or any God to Continue Reading »
Posted on January 17, 2012 by Leah Stern
Hello Pardedians and world, While our time in Poland has been very meaningful so far, it is very hard to write full posts while we are here because of how full our days are. Till I devote time when we arrive home in Israel, I will share impressions of our other community members about their Continue Reading »
