These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Pardes

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Stu Jacobs — A Special Connection

Posted on December 21, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

Parshat VaYigash has for a long time been a parsha that I have a special connection with. Not only is it my bar mitzvah parsha (20 years ago this year), but it was also the parsha the week following my wedding.  After our wedding in Los Angeles, Aviva and I, who had met in Jerusalem Continue Reading »

Мой Пардес находился в Иерусалиме

Posted on December 19, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

This reflection on Pardes was written by Vera Pakhomova Katsman (Fall ’10) В 2010 году я вошла в Пардес. Вообще, Пардес – это фруктовый сад, однако Пардес – это еще и мифологическое место, куда вошли четыре еврейских мудреца, а кто они были, и что с ними случилось там, узнаете потом. Я вам расскажу, как в Continue Reading »

Difficult Conversations and Active Listening

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Aliza Geller

On Wednesday, December 5th, a group of approximately 20 members of the Pardes community gathered to talk about what we could do to facilitate conversations on challenging issues among ourselves. This session was expertly led by Shoshana Rosen (Year Program ‘13) and Meesh Hammer-Kossoy. The biggest concern voiced at the meeting is that people do not necessarily have the skills to Continue Reading »

Newton’s Third Law and the Jewish Question

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Derek Kwait

Maybe it’s because I grew up feeling like one, or maybe it’s just some genetic Jewish thing, but for whatever reason, I’ve always sympathized with the outsider. When I went on the Tale of Three Cities tiyyul the two weeks ago, I didn’t know what to expect, except that we were going to meet three Continue Reading »

Snapshots of my Pardes life

Posted on December 5, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

Hebron Olive There is Torah in this trunk: Otiot of rain, sun, wind, bullets, tears. Clouds pass, stories unwind, sun drops. Light shines through holes in gray bark. Is truth as crooked as this limb, As steep as the hillside? In the hollow center, Old leaves make new soil. Is this a Torah of hope? Continue Reading »

O-bla-di, O-bla-da

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Lauren Schuchart

Originally posted on my blog: (from yesterday) Today is Thanksgiving! After the last few days, I am even more grateful for all of the blessings that I have in my life. With thanks to God for FAMILY (and Skype technology), amazing FRIENDS near and far, a wonderful and supportive community here in Israel, a hope 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 »

[Guest Post] Reflections of the Alex Singer Hike in 2012, the Year of his 25th Yahrtzeit and a Poem

Posted on November 2, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

by Suzanne Singer, Alex’s mom Three events happened this year that gave us a theme for the Alex Hike.  Benjy joined around 250 IDF officers on their trip to Germany and Poland to learn about and see the physical remains of the Shoah. Benjy’s son Itai went with his 12th grade class to Poland to Continue Reading »

Setting My Goals For The Year

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Aliza Geller

Originally posted on http://pomegranatesandpapercranes.blogspot.co.il/: During orientation for the program I am in at Pardes (part of the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators), we were challenged to set goals for ourselves for the year. I was a bit apprehensive about doing this at first, and put it off until now for the following reasons. The first Continue Reading »

In the Beit Midrash Today

Posted on October 23, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

These photos were taken today by Andrea: