Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on July 20, 2016 by Dave Benger
I’ve found that every student at Pardes has a unique backstory, and layer upon layer of reasons for what brought them to this place at this time, each story more intriguing than the last. For me, this summer at Pardes could not have come at a better time. This past year brought some radical transformation Continue Reading »
Posted on March 8, 2016 by Melinda Jones
Every Friday is a rush in my family. Everyone runs backwards and forwards getting ready for Shabbat. In order to have a peaceful and relaxing Shabbat, it seems we need to have lots of stress and much too much shouting. So nothing makes the point of having a day of rest better than that moment when we light candles Continue Reading »
Posted on January 3, 2016 by Melinda Jones
I was invited recently to address an end of year gathering for a committee that has been formed in Melbourne Australia with a view to understanding the inclusion of people with disabilities and implementing projects which will help to bring about the full participation of Jews with disabilities. This was a small gathering of about Continue Reading »
Posted on December 25, 2015 by Tamar Benus
During this time of year, I always start to crave Chinese food, I have a list of holiday movies that I watch annually, and I start to reflect on my past year. I also strategically color coordinate my Chanukah candles, sing every single Chanukah song for the whole month and begin think about my Purim Continue Reading »
Posted on December 18, 2015 by Binyamin Cohen
I don’t deserve this. We don’t deserve this. I’ve changed, we all have. We don’t deserve this, Yehuda thinks to himself, as he approaches the strange man on the strange throne before him. Strange, yet oddly familiar. This man on the seat of power, robed like an Egyptian vizier, but with eyes that make Yehuda Continue Reading »
Posted on December 4, 2015 by David Derin
This week Jews everywhere, around the entire world, will be reading the story of Yosef and the beginnings of the Jewish people’s journey in Egypt. Parshat Va-Yeshev begins with the story of the tension that exists between Joseph and his brothers. This tension escalates when Yaakov gives Yosef a כתנת פסים, typically understood to be Continue Reading »
Posted on November 27, 2015 by Daniella Adler
“וַיָּבֹא֩ יַֽעֲקֹ֨ב שָׁלֵ֜ם” “Yaakov arrived, whole…” (Genesis 33:18) In this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayishlach, we finally encounter our forefather, Yaakov, settling down, laying roots in the Land of Canaan. He finally arrives whole, complete and at peace. Yaakov arrives “שָׁלֵ֜ם” after countless trials and tribulations, after many personal battles of fear and uncertainty throughout his Continue Reading »
Posted on November 20, 2015 by Tamar Benus
The first thing I look up before I decide to travel anywhere is to check to see if: 1)there are kosher restaurants where I want to go 2) if there is a Chabad House Luckily, I have always found what I was looking for. In this week’s Parsha, Parshat Vayetzei, Yaakov is the one traveling, Continue Reading »
Posted on November 13, 2015 by David Wallach
Do you remember a moment that changed your entire life? I’m sure you remember the event, but do you remember the exact moment that everything changed? Our Parsha this week, Toldot, could very well be an episode of a soap opera. It has drama, deception, heartbreak, family – everything needed to pull you in so Continue Reading »
Posted on November 2, 2015 by Daniella Adler
This Dvar Torah is dedicated to the Jews of Tarnogrod, Poland, and my family members: Chaja Malka bat Yakov Leib and Chana, Ita bat Majer Yitzchak and Chaja Malka and Marjem bat Majer Yitzchak and Chaja Malka, who were murdered 73 years ago on Monday, November 2nd, 1942 (כ”ב מרחשון תש”ב). May their memory be Continue Reading »