These and Those

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

Tag Archives: prayer / tefillah / davening

Alai, My Singular Aleinu

Posted on February 1, 2014 by David Bogomolny

Aryeh Ben David once asked me, “What does it mean to be Jewish?” Reflecting upon this, I had some vague ideas, but had never much considered it. “The word Jew (יהודי) is derived from the name Judah (יהודה),” he answered himself, “which comes from the root ‘to thank’. So, for me, the essence of being a Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Upon Request

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Andrea Wiese

Last week’s Parsha ends with Moshe going up to HaShem on Har Sinai to receive the tables with the teachings and commandments. Our Parsha starts with HaShem telling Moshe to instruct B’nei Yisrael to bring “me” (HaShem) gifts which Moshe will collect. דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ-לִי תְּרוּמָה: מֵאֵת כָּל-אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ, תִּקְחוּ אֶת-תְּרוּמָתִי. (שמות Continue Reading »

Split Down the Mechitza

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Emet Ozar

From our blog: How many times have I been asked “ben o bat?” (boy or girl) in Israel? How many times have I been stopped trying to enter the women’s side of the Kotel? Maybe I should explain first off that I’m genderqueer. I have a female body, but don’t identify with femininity at all. Continue Reading »

The Kiddush Paradox

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Yisrael Ben Avraham

It was a paradox in the space time continuum. Two spaces that were but only a few meters away was actually worlds away. What was an inconspicuous courtyard I felt was actually a wormhole to that connected two very different worlds that seemed like other dimensions. What I’m talking about is the courtyard between the Continue Reading »

Snippet of my Prayer Journey

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David Bogomolny

I count myself among those who wouldn’t quite know how to begin a conversation with G!d without a great deal of practice and forethought. What would be worth saying? What would bring G!d to listen? Traditional Jewish prayer works for me – it’s expected of me, ostensibly by G!d, regardless of my awkward reluctance, and Continue Reading »

Relating to Prayer

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Jessica Baverman

From my blog: Prayer is a topic that I feel constantly comes up at school, and I’m amazed at how many people say they truly struggle with it. I never thought that prayer was something religious people struggled with. You either do it and love it or don’t feel connected to it at all and Continue Reading »

A special davening.

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

There was something very special about this morning’s davening (praying) that I don’t always feel. But it started way before my friend started to sing pesukei d’zimra (the opening blessings). This morning wasn’t your average morning, yes, we came early for davening at 7am like other days, but it was difficult. After the Jerusalem snow Continue Reading »

Intention and Repetition

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Itay Zaidenberg

Living in Jerusalem, it’s easy to feel like Israel is abundantly observant. But when I get off the 480 at Tel Aviv’s Arlozorov bus station, I’m immediately reminded, it’s not. And if I didn’t take the 480 so many times that I now recognize several of the bus drivers, I don’t think I would have Continue Reading »

Why was Rosh Chodesh Tevet different?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

Originally posted on her blog.  This month, Tevet, at the Kotel really felt different. Maybe it was logistics. It started at 8am and not 7am. I decided to walk. Someone (from WoW) stopped on their way when they recognized me, picked me up, and gave me a ride. Pardes is on Hanukkah break so I Continue Reading »

Introverted Shabbas!

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: In college, Shabbat was always the most social time of the week. I spent Sunday through Friday holed up in my room reading 19th century literature, tucked into a corner of the library writing short stories about God, or sitting studiously in a PowerPoint-endowed classroom, furiously scribbling notes. On Shabbat, I would Continue Reading »