These and Those

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

Tag Archives: Shema

My Greatest Mentor, Age Seven

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Sydni Adler

I start every personal statement with some variation on the same story: One afternoon in high school, I came home to find my two-year-old brother running around the house, screaming the Shema. Earlier that day, Jacob had learned the prayer in preschool, and now he was yelling it, laughing it, dancing it, while running circles Continue Reading »

A Love So Sharp

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Laura H.

Here are the words I shared at Community Lunch: I spent a lot of time going back and forth in my head about whether or not to give a dvar Torah today. I have learned so much over the last two years, how would I choose something to talk about? What would I say to 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 »

Toxic Davening

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Shoshana Rosen

From my blog: When you are praying the words “Shema Yisrael”, “Listen Israel”, but instead you hear the sound of people yelling at you. When there are more photographers and journalists than people praying. After months of hesitation and apprehension I visit the kotel for Rosh Chodesh. I go to finally see what it is like to be 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 »

Singing and Kol Shofar at Women of the Wall

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Annie Matan Gilbert

This Rosh Hodesh was my second time attending Rosh Hodesh davenning at WoW. Last month, I was glad to check it out and feel like I was part of something important but between the cameras and security, I struggled to feel like I was davenning. This Rosh Hodesh, two amazing things happened. 1) I got Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Rosh Chodesh Adar! by Yishai Paquin

Posted on February 15, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

Yishai Paquin (Year ’11-’12) is an avid photographer. Here he shares a spiritual insight that he gained through photography: Sometimes reminders come from unsuspected places. I was learning how to edit photos today when my instructor mentioned that dark layers are for light and light layers are for dark. It is the same basics for Continue Reading »

[Student Profile] Ben Gurin & Sydni Adler

Posted on January 21, 2013 by David Bogomolny

Sydni Adler (Year ’13) and Ben Gurin (Year ’13) met during the Summer of ’10 in Washington DC, as participants on the Mechon Kaplan program of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Together with their cohort, they took classes on Social Justice and Judaism, and each interned for an NGO; Sydni worked on campaign Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Ayeka: The Cherry on my Spiritual Journey’s Cake

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

By Mira B. Shore (Summer ’09, ’10; Year ’12) As a self-identified progressive, liberal, secular Jew growing up at Jewish Day School, I spent a lot of my time and energy speaking about why prayer and G-d were NOT a part of my life. I actively ran from prayer. Once I had my bat-mitzvah, there Continue Reading »

Notes By ShiraBee: Time & Faith in Mishnah

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Shira Bee

Originally posted on my blog: