These and Those

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

Tag Archives: role models and/or heroes

[Alumni Guest Post] Sara Brandes – A Purim D’var Torah (a spoken word piece)

Posted on February 11, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Rosh Chodesh Adar is almost over, but Purim is coming soon! A Provocative Purim Poem by Sara Brandes (Year ’01, Fellows ’02, Elul ’05) ENJOY! Rabbi Sara Brandes lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband Hyim, and two children, Michal (5) and Gavi (2). She is West Coast Regional Director at Moving Traditions, and Continue Reading »

Azkara for Janet Robbin

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

One thing that is very real lately at Pardes is the Jewish life cycle; particularly, the end. Last week many students traveled to Alon Shvut to support Zvi Hirschfield at the funeral of his father. And just last night, many students and people from the community gathered in the Beit Midrash for an azkara or a type Continue Reading »

Dear Marla and Ben:

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Laura H.

Dear Marla and Ben: I feel connected to you even though I never knew you. The moment that you were killed was a powerful moment in my own personal narrative relating to Israel. I was scheduled to come to Israel for a semester of high school in the fall of 2002. All summer, I was Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] I also have a dream?

Posted on January 21, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Dan (Year ’10) shared the following reflection on Facebook… his writing is poignant as usual! Dear MLK: from one flawed human being to another flawed human being who changed the world – how did you do it? How did you see a different reality when others said there’s no chance that it will come true? Continue Reading »

What is a prayer? [pt. 2 in a series]

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

(Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) At Pardes, it is easy to look at our faculty and see inhumanly perfect beings. This is an unfair assessment. Don’t tell Rabbi Eliezer I said this, but sometimes kavod rabbeinu (respect for our teachers) can go too far in making it impossible to see something of ourselves in Continue Reading »

Relative Power Dynamics

Posted on November 4, 2012 by David Bogomolny

I have been involved with Ayeka for more than two years now. I had the privilege of participating in two Ayeka modules facilitated by Aryeh Ben David (the first on developing a personal relationship with God, and the second on developing meaningful relationships with other people – all created in the image of God). The Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Working for Prophet

Posted on October 29, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

By Jeremy Sorgen (Spring 2011): What is prophecy? Who are prophets? Traditionally, prophets have played the role of messenger of God. They are God’s mouthpiece, communicating their revelation to mankind–at once an onerous responsibility and an unpleasant task. The prophets of the Bible are unhappy creatures, driven mad by the intimate presence of God and Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Avi Spodek: In Memory of Leah Topper, a”h, Noach 5773

Posted on October 18, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

In memory/honor of Leibka Feiga bat Chanoch A”H (Laura Faye Topper) This week marks the 9th anniversary of my mother-in-law’s passing. Laura suffered most of her adult life from Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that slows down or blocks messages between the brain and the body and causes – amongst other symptoms – visual disturbances, muscle Continue Reading »

The Legend of the Bird Shem Tov

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Derek Kwait

My friend Simcha and I wrote this story together while bunkmates at the Ivy League Torah Study Experience in the summer of 2010. I shared it at the Tisch during the Shabbaton this weekend, and now thought I’d share it with you. Enjoy. The Legend of the Bird Shem Tov by Yehosh Mohsh & Simcha Continue Reading »

American Football in Israel

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Andrea Wiese

I’m sure there are many Americans who don’t want to come to Pardes to study because they don’t want to miss the football season. Well, no worries, there is football in Israel. http://vimeo.com/49323951 Israeli Football League from Grace Barcenas on Vimeo. I referee for this league. You can see me at one minute and 45 Continue Reading »