Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 21, 2012 by Barer
Many of us who fall under the label ‘modern liberal Jew’ view women’s role (or lack thereof) in traditional Judaism to be a serious affront to our notions of egalitarianism. ‘How can it be’ we ask, ‘that anyone could live in a Western democracy in the 21st century and subject women to secondary-citizen status in Continue Reading »
Posted on February 20, 2012 by R. Murstein
Last weekend, I spent a lovely Shabbat in the holy city of Hevron. What a place! The four Pardesniks that went were a tour de force of “peace and conflict.” Personally, I made it my duty to wear a huge smile and say hello to every person I happened across, be they Jew, Arab or Continue Reading »
Posted on February 19, 2012 by Derek Kwait
(Mostly X-posted from my home blog, Yinzer in Yerushalayim) * For Tuesday’s group lecture, Robby Berman, head of the Halakhic Organ Donor Society came to give a riveting, inspiring, infuriating talk. I’ll sum it up in brief: There is no valid Jewish (or non-Jewish) reason to not save lives by being an organ donor. If Continue Reading »
Posted on February 16, 2012 by Aliza B.
Today I had the most wonderful pleasure–I got to read from the Torah in the Egalitarian Minyan at Pardes. It happened almost by accident. As the gabbait for the minyan, I neglected to ask people to read earlier in the week. Last night, when I realized my mistake, I decided to just learn it myself. Continue Reading »
Posted on February 6, 2012 by J. Belasco
I find that I would like to explore more intensively the question of where flexibility exists within halacha and what to do with conflict between the halachic system and my other values. This is particularly important for me right now, since I am on the brink of moving out of the bubble of Pardes and Continue Reading »
Posted on January 30, 2012 by Heligman
Hi Friends, Please donate and help bring new and inspiring music and prayer to those who need it. The Nava Tehila community in Jerusalem has been a 2nd home to me in Israel, but more than that they have been an inspiration and have shown me that it is possible to bring true love and Continue Reading »
Posted on January 22, 2012 by Leah Stern
Hi Pardesians and World, On Friday morning at 4:30 AM, I arrived back from Poland with my fellow Pardesians. Though we are happy to be back in Israel and are looking forward to the coming semester, we continue to process and ask questions about our experience in Poland. The first experience I would like to Continue Reading »
Posted on January 10, 2012 by Shibley
T’fillah is obviously made up of seemingly countless words. Words that we can learn to say repeatedly, by memory, mumble through, or strike from our t’fillot. Lately, I have wondered about what small changes to the words would do to our experience of prayer. To that end, I have been experimenting with Nusach Sfard instead Continue Reading »
Posted on November 20, 2011 by Shibley
Nope, not about freshly printed U.S. dollars, but it got your attention! Nearly two weeks ago we began adding the request for rain to our daily prayers. Within hours, there was a torrential downpour, with a brilliant lightening display and booming thunder. This grand display of the awesome power of nature was certainly awe inspiring. Continue Reading »
Posted on November 19, 2011 by Soffer
Posted at Darkeynu just before Shabbat: One of my favorite parts of camp is the Learner’s Minyan every Shabbat morning. In addition to the special community that we build, it also affords us a zman kavua (set time) to really struggle with fundamental questions about prayer. This summer, each week we discussed a different question Continue Reading »
