These and Those

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

Tag Archives: music

Pardes Turkey 2015: United in Song

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Myra Meskin

After spending a few days getting to know the Jewish community here in Istanbul, we went today to the Jewish old age home, to hear their stories and to sing with them. Although we met one resident who spoke wonderful English and who told us about her studies in America and her time as a Continue Reading »

Faith in an Age of Miracles

Posted on December 21, 2014 by Joshua Fleet

Before the miracle, there was a test. Everybody knows Hanukkah is about miracles — how that little flask of holy gold was uncovered, how it burned for eight days, just enough time to pick and press more olives into oil. But before finding that small sealed jar of purity, before reentering the once-glorious Temple, before Continue Reading »

“Til then my heart will stay here”

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Joseph Levin-Manning

I wrote this song to the tune of “I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane” None of my bags are packed, Though I must go. My here now has come to a close. I wish I didn’t have to say goodbye. But the dawn is breakin’, It’s early morn. The hope’s still here, It’s growin’ more. Continue Reading »

God Said to the students of Pardes

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Misha Brenner

My words from the final Community Lunch of the 2013-14 Year Program, based off the song “21 Questions” by 50 cent: Mishmei DiRavi Misha Mishum HaRav NateDogg, Zichron LiVracha: Amar Hakadosh Baruch Hu LiTzurba DiPardes… Girl, it’s easy to love me now, but would you love me if I was down, and out, would you Continue Reading »

Birkat Hamazon

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Rory Sullivan

It took me eight years to get back to Pardes. During a Birthright trip my freshman year of college, we sat in the Beit Midrash, the great big room filled with tables of four chairs each and books lining every wall. We studied a text that I don’t remember. What I do remember is liking Continue Reading »

New tunes amisdt the old

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Alanna Kleinman

From my blog: A few nights ago I went to a music and light festival in the old city. Earlier that day, I signed a contract for my job next year- working with Jewish communities in the South, based in Jackson Mississippi. I’ve become aware of what little time I have left in Israel, and Continue Reading »

Only one more week is not enough with these students!

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Laura Marder

I am having so much fun with my 7th graders at Hannah Senesh Community Day School. We are learning Bmidbar 13 and 14. These chapters really speak to where the students are in their lives. They, like Bnai Yisrael are close to embarking on a journey to a new land…. The HIGH SCHOOL! The 8th Continue Reading »

Dun, dun… DUN! To the Beit Midrash!

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Max Einsohn

From the 2014 Purim Shpiel: I mixed the voice of our amazing teacher Levi Cooper, energizing us with a powerful “To the Beit Midrash!!” each day before we enter our Chevruta learning. I just felt like every time he said “To the Beit Midrash!!” that we were going off to fight crime or something… So Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Eli Witkin

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Sara Spanjer

Want to learn a ditty or two from the tallest guy at Pardes? Eli Witkin is your man! He loves and knows probably every song in the Pardes bencher, and he’s a patient and wonderful teacher. It seems the only thing that may distract Eli from his intense studying is music. If music is playing Continue Reading »

Salon Pardes 2014

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Rory Sullivan

If only writing a blog post came as naturally to me as writing a song. But unlike songs, I don’t go walking around dictating blog posts to myself. Nevertheless, I really wanted to write about the Pardes Salon, because I found it so inspiring. The experience started off with an email from Candace Mittel. This Continue Reading »