These and Those

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

Tag Archives: pictures / photos

I’m Totally Semi-Qualified to Handle That!

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Not much has happened this summer. Wait, let me amend that statement: Not much has happened this summer in the personal life of Naomi Bilmes. A good deal, in fact, has happened in the world. There’s the Syrian uprising, the confessions and apologies of New York politicians, the Pope’s near-sainthood, and Egypt’s Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Chalk and Rivers

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Eli Steier

Studying at Pardes was amazing, and I gained much. One of the things I learned from my experiences at Pardes is how to be more comfortable with not knowing the answer, to not be so worried about getting life wrong. Let me explain, and lay my position on the table. I do believe there is Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] The Natural History of Nachas

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Falynn Schmidt

From my blog: Does any other language have a word for the particular pride we feel when someone we love does something great? I am not sure, but perhaps this is specific to the Jewish people and their languages of Yiddish and Hebrew. Nachas. It is exactly that: a word that describes in two syllables the almost Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Pardes: a new family summer adventure

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Michal Kohane

From my blog: There are a lot of things kids can do that drive their parents crazy. We all know it, as parents – and as the kids we all are (even if we opt to forget what we’ve done ourselves!). But then, there are also grand and wonderful things children do that warm a Continue Reading »

Even when we are afraid

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Emly Oren

Throughout my life, I have been exposed to many different viewpoints and opinions about the Arab-Israeli conflict. As a Jewish leader and Israeli activist, I believe it is my responsibility to be educated and informed on this complex subject. However, after returning to live in Israel and trying to actively participate in this sensitive topic, Continue Reading »

Why accept a job that is guaranteed to break your heart?

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

Every summer when I start working with forty reform North American teenagers, I know exactly what is going to happen. I am going to pour my heart and soul into being their mechanechet (educator), taking them through Europe and Israel, into keeping them healthy, and making sure they feel loved. And when they leave five Continue Reading »

Angels in Our Lives

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Susan Daniels

I became a widow in the year 2000. I never thought I’d be checking that box on printed forms and registrations. I had two small children, and a two week old Masters in Education. My most memorable interview was at the Orthodox Day School where I found my new job. The principal tried to convince Continue Reading »

Yet Another Bracha

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Ben Macdonald

Two months ago, I decided to do a little experiment. For those who haven’t heard me talking about it, I decided to take 30 days and live shomer mitzvot. I started on Yom HaZikaron and ended on Shavuot and from the first day in I had a really difficult time. First off I needed to Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Mary Brett Koplen & Adam Masser

Posted on June 25, 2013 by David Bogomolny

If you walked the halls of Pardes days during our 2012-2013 year program, you might have noticed two students spending a lot of time together. You might have heard them laughing on a Jerusalem park bench. You might have seen them learning together in the Beit Midrash. If you found them at your Shabbat table, Continue Reading »

Thirty Days of Tzitzit

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

From my blog: The sunset this evening brought an end to my thirty days of wearing tzitzit. Like any Jewish ritual/mitzvah that I have taken on, I started out by “trying it out.” So I thought this was a good approach to wearing tzitzit also. Thirty days, why not? They say that is how long Continue Reading »