These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Rashi

Germany Up Close – Pardes Germany Trip 2019

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Barry Rosekind

The week long Pardes/Germany Close Up trip was full to the brim to say the least. The first couple days were filled with so much life, living Judaism and confronting the Holocaust and its memory. Our program began with a conversation with our trip organizers including Dr. Dagmar Pruin, who is an incredible woman, and Continue Reading »

“You Never Need Nobody”

Posted on January 8, 2015 by Suzanne Hutt

This week’s parsha, Shemot, is the first in the Book of Exodus. It tells of the beginning of Moshe’s life and the story of Passover. In the beginning of the parsha, we hear of Pharoah’s evil decree, in which he commands the midwives to kill all of the male Hebrew babies. The midwives, however, do Continue Reading »

[PCJE] VaYeishev – They Say I’m a Dreamer…

Posted on December 12, 2014 by David Wallach

Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. בראשית ל”ז:י”ט-כ’ וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו הִנֵּה בַּעַל הַחֲלֹמוֹת הַלָּזֶה בָּא. וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנַהַרְגֵהוּ וְנַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בְּאַחַד הַבֹּרוֹת וְאָמַרְנוּ חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ וְנִרְאֶה מַה-יִּהְיוּ חֲלֹמֹתָיו. They said to one another, “here comes the dreamer! Let’s kill him and throw him into Continue Reading »

[PCJE D’var Torah] Vayera: looking for understanding

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Mollie Feldman

Writing this blog post comes directly on the heels of a Pardes tiyul to Hebron. This was my first visit to Hebron, although far from my first difficult confrontation with or conversation about the current political situation in Israel. The soul searching, questioning, despair, and hope that inevitably follows this sort of trip (and – Continue Reading »

Parshat Noach: Don’t just do right; make right!

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David Wallach

Night Seder Chevrutas Binyamin Cohen and David Wallach join together to reflect on this week’s parshah. אֵלֶּה, תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ–נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה, בְּדֹרֹתָיו:  אֶת-הָאֱלֹהִים, הִתְהַלֶּךְ-נֹחַ (בְּרֵאשִׁית ו:ט) These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and whole-hearted; Noah walked with God. (Gen. 6:9) Our parshah opens up with Continue Reading »

חזרת הד”ק (My Week in Review)

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David Curiel

Lichvod R’Judith Z. Abrams, ז”ל It was a sweet irony that during a break in my Gemara shiur yesterday, I found out that my first teacher of rabbinic texts, Reb Judith, as she was affectionately called, died suddenly of a heart attack the day before. She would have appreciated that, with a patented mischievous laugh Continue Reading »

Just Keep Learning

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Hannah Joy

From my blog: (I know, I know. I haven’t blogged in months. And my year here will be over in less than three weeks. Unreal.) This past Shabbat was the final Pardes shabbaton. Here are some thoughts I shared at the tisch Friday night. Parshat Bechukotai deals with blessings and curses. It opens with the Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] The Chosen Blessings

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Laura Marder

What do we have to do in order to get the beautiful blessings that are promised to us in this week’s parsha? Blessings that really take care of us – our whole selves, emotionally and physically. Blessings that have blossoming effects on our shared land and bring food and joy to our tables. It seems Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Digging a Pit and Me

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Hirsch Fishman

X-posted from Eryn’s blog post: Eryn London (Summer ’06 & ’07, Community Education ’10, Year ’10-’11, Hourly ’11-’12) made Aliya from New Jersey three years ago. She is currently studying in the Manhiga Hilchatit Program at Midreshet Lindenbaum, which is a 5 year advanced Halacha learning program. Beyond learning she also runs activities at a Continue Reading »

Mission: Perplexing

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David Bogomolny

Tonight, in Berlin, I am sharing this dvar Torah with my fellow Pardesniks and other Germany Close Up participants – Shabbat Shalom, Everyone! In reviewing Parshat Yitro, I find myself drawn to the four psukim (verses) of the 3rd Aliyah – much happens in these lines – a story in and of itself! The Book of Exodus Continue Reading »