These and Those

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

Tag Archives: ritual

[Alumni Guest Post] The Purpose of Two Seders

Posted on April 3, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Posted by Ben Barer (Fall ’10, Fellows ’12): Having only one seder last year, while in Israel, followed by having two this year, has led me to reflect on why this custom is maintained, and how best to perpetuate it as a meaningful one. Like the other holidays that are celebrated one extra day outside of Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Intrafaith Engagement

Posted on October 17, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

by Ben Barer (Fall 2010, Fellows 2011-12) Cross-posted from his blog. “All Jews are friends” I came across this article recently, and the tenor of the article greatly disturbed me.  My friend and fellow Pardes alum did a wonderful job setting the record straight, but I see the underlying problem as requiring more thought as Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Kyle Lebell

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Barer

Kyle was raised in Berkeley, CA to a father who had rejected his Jesuit upbringing and faith altogether, but remained knowledgeable through his work as a publisher of religious books, and a Jewish mother who did not have a strong traditional upbringing.  While Judaism as such did not play a positive, central role in her Continue Reading »

And you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart

Posted on May 8, 2012 by aliza

וארשתיך לי לעולם, וארשתיך לי בצדק ובמשפט ובחסד וברחמים.  וארשתיך לי באמונה, וידעת את הי And I will betrothe you to me forever and always, and I will betrothe you to me in righteousness and in justice and in loving-kindness and in compassion.  And I will betrothe you to me in faith and belief and Continue Reading »

אמור

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Barer

In this week’s ​parsha​, all the holidays are described in order (starting with ​Pesach​). Immediately afterwards, the text details the rituals associated with the objects within the קודש, the ​Holy​ on the ​Mishkan​ and later the Temple. ​Mussaf Rashi​, a compilation of scattered commentary attributed to ​Rashi​, notes that this is a hint to ​the Continue Reading »

The Fow Ti’s special practice

Posted on May 1, 2012 by AdAm Mayer

First posted on my blog: Every morning the Fow Ti would go out to a near by lake, and sit down with his feet in the water. In the winter the water would be cold, but still, he would stick his feet in the water. He would sit this way for some time before getting Continue Reading »

Of Religious Atheists

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Barer

“Why do you wear a Kippah?” “What could you possibly get out of davenning [prayer]? “Why grow an itchy beard for a month?” These questions, and others like them, have all been asked of me, specifically in light of the fact that I do not believe in God.  They are all valid questions, and have Continue Reading »

תצוה

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Barer

This week’s parsha deals exclusively with the intricacies involved in creating the garments to be worn by the priests, specifically the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest.  Most of the traditional commentators are nearly silent for much of the parsha, which is not extremely surprising, as many of them saw their aim as being elucidating the Continue Reading »

Sukkot D’var Torah

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Derek Kwait

Originally posted on Yinzer in Yerushalayim for Sukkot (6 days ago): My Mishna teacher had our class over for a party in the sukkah last night. I gave the d’var and thought I would share a slightly modified version of it with you: I remember last year, a member of my synagogue remarked that whereas the Continue Reading »

כי תצא

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Barer

This week’s parsha contains a panoply of laws, customs, and rituals, in no readily ascertainable order.  Given the mixed nature of the parsha, a theme is harder to come by than in most weeks.  I want to focus on a repeated phrase appearing in connection to a number of the negative commandments that I think Continue Reading »