These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Gilad Shalit

the Shalit Debate

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Suzi

On Monday, October 24, Pardes students and staff were treated to a brilliant intellectual exercise as Pardes Dean Dr. David Bernstein and Pardes teacher Rabbi David Levin-Kruss debated the recent events which brought hostage Gilad Shalit home to Israel in exchange for over 1,000 incarcerated Palestinian prisoners. The twist?  Neither man knew which side of Continue Reading »

Exploring Jerusalem communities

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Suzi

Interesting experience a couple weeks ago. As some of you know, I’m exploring Jerusalem’s various shuls and traditions. Carlebach, Sephardic, traditional, Modern Orthodox, egalitarian so far. Since I’m in a city with a minyan on every corner, why not! A friend had told me that Kol Haneshama, a Reform kehillah, was holding Simchat Torah services Continue Reading »

A Week of Fullness, Friends and Fun

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Eliyahu B.

Cross-posted from the Peaceable Pilgrim: Shalom friends! It is the beginning of a new week here in Jerusalem, and the past one was filled with SO MUCH AWESOMENESS that I just have to share with you. Classes started up again full-swing on Sunday, and even though I was somewhat dreading getting back to a normal Continue Reading »

Week 8: Leftovers

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Derek Kwait

Ever since I’ve arrived here there’s been stuff I wanted to talk about but just didn’t have room for in that week’s blog post. Since this was a relatively slow week, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some of them, but I’ll start with the biggest story from this week: *So Continue Reading »

Political Lenses

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Barer

It has been a week since Gilad Shalit was released back to Israel as part of the prisoner swap Israel made with Hamas, freeing 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the soldier who had been in captivity for over five years.  Trying to collate the different sources and viewpoints on this momentous event in modern Continue Reading »

Week 7: Sukkot

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Derek Kwait

(X-posted from my home blog Yinzer in Yerushalayim) We had all of Sukkot off, plus 3 days, making for 2 weeks of free time. Many of my peers went on trips through the country of went camping. While I didn’t do either of those, I had an adventurous holiday nonetheless. The adventure started before Sukkot Continue Reading »

a Shuk experience

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Suzi

I wrote this last Friday, after Sukkot: Someone dear to me used to say I saw the big picture bigger and the details as if through a microscope, but couldn’t see the real world as it exists in front of me. Is that why I set off happily for the shuk today, oblivious to the Continue Reading »

זמן שמחתנו The Time of our Joy

Posted on October 22, 2011 by Soffer

Originally posted on Darkeynu דרכינו: Here are some thoughts I shared with Shechter Westchester students about todays (this was originally posted a few days ago) events: Gilad Shalit….Gilad Ben Aviva Shalit. For too long this simple name has been in the prayers of Jews throughout the world, as we have waited and wondered about this Continue Reading »

Welcome Home Gilad

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Andrea Wiese

Today is an amazing day for Israel and Israelis. Gilad Shalit who was was imprisoned in Gaza by Hamas for over five years, 1,941 days, was freed this morning after long negotiations in a prisoner exchange. 1,027 prisoners were released from Israel for Gilad’s return. Many people are upset about the exchange, saying how could Continue Reading »

Sukkot

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Shibley

Immediately following Yom Kippur, the hammer blows could be heard echoing behind my building. I was mightily surprised when I heard those construction noises following a fast, “who could be working now?” I thought, before realizing we had begun the transition to Sukkot. All over town sukkot of all varieties began popping up on sidewalks, Continue Reading »