These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Shavuot

[Alumni Guest Post] Why Were the Jews Given the Torah?

Posted on June 7, 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 »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Worst. Math Homework. Ever.

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Elana Shilling

The omer is my least favourite time of year. Partly because of how all the clean-cut men in the world suddenly become scraggly and foreign looking and also partly because of the mournful tone of the month. Mostly however, the omer is a terrible time of year for me because of the sheer amount of Continue Reading »

Yet Another Bracha

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Ben Macdonald

Two months ago, I decided to do a little experiment. For those who haven’t heard me talking about it, I decided to take 30 days and live shomer mitzvot. I started on Yom HaZikaron and ended on Shavuot and from the first day in I had a really difficult time. First off I needed to Continue Reading »

Our Prophecy at Pardes

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Sydni Adler

My dvar Torah from the Galil Shabbaton: On Shavuot, Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan spoke about the prophetic power of G-d’s ruach – G-d’s spirit, breath, or wind. Throughout Tanakh, whenever ruach appears, G-d pervades material being, and often, individual human beings. In both the Torah and Haftarah portions of Be’haalotecha, we deal directly with ruach Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Choose Wisely!

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

Tamara Frankel (PEP ’09-’11) is in her second year of teaching at Chicagoland Jewish High School. It’s one of the first sunny days in Chicago this spring and my students beg me to take them outside for class. We negotiate and decide to review our homework in class, on the board, and then go outside Continue Reading »

אחד – ONENESS

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen

From my blog: Am I awake or asleep? Maybe a dreamlike state in between the two. I leave my apartment 4:45 am to continue my journey But all I am thinking about is my bed, snuggling between my warm blankets, head on my pillow. But then I thought of the people who used to walk, Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] From Desert to Dessert: a Shavuot Reflection – by Tani Cohen-Fraade

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Tani Cohen-Fraade

In Rabbi Meir Schewiger’s Parashat ha-Shavuah (weekly Torah Portion) class, while learning Sefer Shemot (Book of Exodus), we spoke about the desert as a place where one goes to prepare for Torah study. When B’nei Yisrael (Children of Israel) leave Egypt, they flee through the desert and are on the run until they get to Yam Suf (Red Continue Reading »

Holy Arithmetic

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Laurie Franklin

One An outlander arrives in J-town. Not my first time and G!d-willing, not my last. In a newish role: student, not teacher! The book is open. Minus one Disequilibrium: distance from home and life partner, Jitters, does anyone understand who I am? Do I understand who I am In this novel circumstance?

Unexpected Encounters: The Jewish Holidays and the Other – Shavuot

Posted on May 14, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Pardes is pleased to present the third episode of our new podcast series by Rabbi Daniel Landes, Unexpected Encounters: The Jewish Holidays and the Other. This episode is on Shavuot. Episode title: Shavuot–Kedushat HaKotel UE: Shavuot Click here for the accompanying handouts. Pardes thanks the Alexander Soros Foundation, the sponsor for the series.

[Alumni Guest Post] Ready!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Sarah Margles (Year ’02, PEP ’04) reflects upon preparing for Shavuot… what does “readiness” mean? I remember when I first started at Pardes, I would spend much of Fridays getting ready for Shabbat – shopping, cooking, cleaning. When the siren went to light candles, my roommate would inevitably yell out, while running from the bathroom Continue Reading »