These and Those

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

Tag Archives: shame

[Alumni Guest Post] Failure as Illumination

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Eva Neuhaus

All the month of Elul before eating and sleeping let every man sit and look into his soul, and search his deeds, that he may make confession. (S.Y. Agnon, Days of Awe, citing Maharil) Last week I had an epic fail. I think failures are precious—especially the big ones— because they offer a huge window into the Continue Reading »

I’ve been saying Watermelon a lot.

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Rachel Dingman

I don’t formally blog, but I did spend some time reflecting on something I shared at our 2014 Pardes Summer Program Tish. Here are my reflections: At a dinner at Yaffa’s house she made the joke “sing along if you know the words, if you don’t just say Watermelon”. Needless to say, I said watermelon Continue Reading »

Leaving

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Alanna Kleinman

I’m leaving Israel today. I hurry to catch my plane, held up before security for sentimental reasons. Rushed goodbyes and confusion. I enter the plane with a crowd full of men in black jackets, fur hats, and peyos. I walk inside to find the aisles crowded full of these men, pushing and shoving, frantically fitting Continue Reading »

Reading, Writing, Running: A Personal Challenge

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: With only a little over two months left in my second round of adventures in Jerusalem, I’ve been disappointed in myself for not keeping up my reading and writing habits as a part of my day to day life. I have been clinging to the romantic notion that living in the Holy Continue Reading »

Women and Men at the Wall

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Stuart Matan Lithwick

Hello Pardesians! I went to Women at the Wall this week, and I have to write about it! It was an incredible experience in so many ways! I had gone to Women at the Wall once before, but I think this was the biggest turnout yet! Also, what gave it a different flavour was a Continue Reading »

Losing My Religion

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Ma'ayan Dyer

(X-posted from my blog Lost in Jerusalem: http://lostjlem.blogspot.com/) Two weeks have passed since I said goodbye to Jerusalem and hello to an old familiar foe, Medford, Oregon. The job hunt continues, and the sudden realization of how far away the nearest shul is, a mere ten miles, seems as though it might as well be Continue Reading »

The Burden of Submission

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Joel D.

A great Rabbi once spoke of his relationship with the Jewish people and its Law. Of the People he spoke of love, but of Law he spoke of submission. This I found to be gravely unappetizing. For to speak of submission is to speak of burden, not of loving embrace. To recognize Jewish Law as Continue Reading »

תזריע, tazria

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

this week’s parsha, parshat תזריע, focuses on the nitty gritty details of how the cohen diagnoses someone as unclean, either as result of some scaly infection, inflammation, or good ol’ leprosy.  after analyzing the tell-tale signs on the skin, more than not, the confirmed or even suspected leprous person is sent out of the camp Continue Reading »

[Take 5] Jessica Belasco: Life & Disability

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Joel D.

Interested in disabilities? Check out the text of Jessica’s [Take 5], and check out some online resources that she recommends!

Disabilities Civil Rights Movement

Posted on March 19, 2011 by J. Belasco

Below is the text of my Take 5, which will hopefully get posted soon in VIDEO format. I’m happy to continue this conversation with anyone who would like to. I want to talk about my own experience of disability and, in a broader sense, about the disability rights movement (which I think is a really Continue Reading »