These and Those

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

Tag Archives: mourning

Ghosts in the night

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Abayiss

Tonight is the night.   No, I am not OK. No, you can not help. No, you do not understand. No, I am not alone.   Tonight is the night I dread all year. All the ghosts that have been pushed into the shadows (with the exception of the occasional visit) come out. Tonight is their Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Shmini 5773

Posted on April 4, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

This week, Rav Daniel Landes discusses Parashat Shmini. Shmini ’73 Shabbat shalom!

The only way to leave mitzraim is out of love

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen

From my blog: When I asked him why he made the haggadah he took a step back and gave me a weird shocked face, and said, “no one has asked me that question.” I also looked surprised, “no one has ever asked you why you wanted to make a haggadah?” He replied, “Well, not tonight.” Continue Reading »

He Left Words on a Page

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: I was in the middle of writing another post, but this one needed to come out first. I spent all day hiding these words inside – please read them now and know. As many of you know, there was a shooting yesterday in College Park, MD. It was a small shooting. Only Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] In Loving Memory of Rose Goldberg

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Carole Daman

Thursday’s learning is dedicated to the loving memory of Rose Goldberg, Bryna Rayzel bat Avraham V’ Tcherna. (Rose’s first yahrzeit is on Friday, Shevat 14) Rose’s daughter, Carole Daman (Year Program ‘74) writes: My mother was a very warm, vivacious woman who was active in Jewish communal affairs into her 90’s. For many years she Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Aviva Golbert — Oak of Weeping

Posted on November 30, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

While this week’s parsha, VaYishlach, includes some of our tradition’s high-points (Jacob struggles with an angel and prevails! Jacob’s name is changed to Israel and he is blessed with land and progeny!) as well as some of its low-points (the rape of Dinah; Reuben sleeping with his father’s handmaid, Bilhah), my favorite verse in VaYishlach Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Does God Direct Our Lives?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

Betty Hilton (Year Program, ’81-’82) gave this sermon at her temple in San Antonio, Texas about how much the Pardes experience influenced her. Sadly, she died as the result of a brain tumor about a year after giving the sermon, Dec. 2008. Have you ever wondered whether or not God is directing your life? Does Continue Reading »

A Shabbat to remember

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Andrea Wiese

Last night, I had 30 women studying at Pardes over to my house for Shabbat. I was really worried about inviting so many people, but I just couldn’t only invite some, as I really love every woman at Pardes and really wanted to have a beautiful experience in my home. Seeing that it was going Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Avi Spodek: In Memory of Leah Topper, a”h, Noach 5773

Posted on October 18, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

In memory/honor of Leibka Feiga bat Chanoch A”H (Laura Faye Topper) This week marks the 9th anniversary of my mother-in-law’s passing. Laura suffered most of her adult life from Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that slows down or blocks messages between the brain and the body and causes – amongst other symptoms – visual disturbances, muscle Continue Reading »

My Spiritual High at Zorba

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Laura Marder

Do you ever feel like there is a cage around you? Like you can carry it around but sometimes it gets heavy and tires you down. Perhaps it restrains you from moving in a comfortable way or running to what you really desire. I hadn’t really thought of myself in a cage at all before Continue Reading »