Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on December 27, 2013 by Carolyn Gerecht
As Parshat Shemot closes, it’s not looking good for the Israelites. Petitioned by Aharon and Moshe, Pharaoh not only refuses their (botched) request to free the Israelites from slavery – he also adds to their misery by demanding that they now gather the straw that they need themselves while still maintaining the same pace (Shemot Continue Reading »
Posted on January 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
Alum Daniel Shibley (Fellows ’12) is on a roll! Check out this dvar Torah for Parshat Va’era: Well documented in Facebook photos and through the news outlets are the rain and snow that have fallen throughout the State of Israel over the last several days. While Jerusalem has not seen snow like this in nearly Continue Reading »
Posted on January 10, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
This week, Rav Meir Schweiger discusses Parashat VaEra in The Redemption speech. VaEra 5773 Click here for the accompanying source sheet. Shabbat shalom!
Posted on January 10, 2013 by Cara Abrams-Simonton
Although this week’s parashah, Va’era, is full of many rich elements of our story as a Jewish people, I am drawn to the four promises that God makes to the Jewish people in chapter 6, verses 6 and 7: “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you Continue Reading »
Posted on January 2, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, Much of the Book of Exodus, including last week’s Parshat Va’era, is about linking the beginnings of the world, and particularly the history of one family (i.e. Abraham and Sarah’s), their struggles and triumphs, to the development and history of a specific nation, soon to be known as Bnei Yisrael–the Jewish People. I Continue Reading »
Posted on December 30, 2010 by Avi Strausberg
in this week’s parsha, parshat וארא, i struggled with God’s hand in the hardening of pharoah’s heart and the destruction and violence that result. while pharoah certainly has within him the seed to be the oppressive, tyrannical ruler that dominates this parsha, pharoah’s refusal and stubbornness to release the jewish people, seems to stem from Continue Reading »
