These and Those

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

Tag Archives: symbolism / analogy / metaphor

TGI (almost) Cheshvan

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Sam Stern

From my blog: We dance, we kiss, we schmooze, we carry on, we go home happy.  What do you say?  Come on. The holiday of Sukkot is sometimes referred to as the Festival of In-gathering.  In the agricultural world, this time period marks the completion of the harvest and the beginning of the planting/rainy season. Continue Reading »

To Dwell Together

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Hannah Joy

From my blog: Last Tuesday before break, we had a Yom Iyun (special day of learning) for Sukkot. One of the ideas that has stuck with me throughout this holiday is that of learning to dwell together. In a session taught by Daniel Roth entitled “‘Spread your Sukkah of Peace Upon Us?!’ The Peace and Violence Continue Reading »

The Copyist

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

 From my blog: The Copyist   People tell me that I am brave. People tell me that what I do is scarier than a job interview or public speaking. It’s more frightening than singing karaoke in front of 15 Julliard students. It’s more terror-inducing than a claustrophobic getting into an elevator with a 360-pound football player Continue Reading »

Arba Minim

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Deborah Renert

During the formative period of Rabbinic Judaism during the 2nd Temple period, Judaism was anything but homogeneous. The reality was that here were various groups of minim or sects–including the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Essenes, etc. Their beliefs and religious behavior was often radically different from each one’s fellow sects. Classically, they differed with respect to Continue Reading »

NFTY, I’m shaking what?

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

From my blog: Sukkot is a holiday that is really about joy. We are commanded to be happy. We build a booth outside in the elements of the weather to show God that we trust and depend on him. We are told to dwell in the booth/sukkah that we made. The rabbis interpreted this to Continue Reading »

[PCJE Dvar Torah] Learning to rejoice in what we have

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Laura Marder

What if you always knew exactly how long you have something or someone to enjoy? You knew that these were the precious few days or years and then they/ it would be gone. Would that change your relationship or feelings towards them/it? Would you follow the wise words of Rav Tim McGraw and “live like Continue Reading »

A NFTY Gmar Chatima Tova (A good signing into the book of life.)

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Andrea Wiese

From my blog: During Yom Kippur, we are commanded to “afflict ourselves.” “עינוי נפש” The gemara has a very lengthy discussion of what this could mean. Does it mean we don’t have sexual relations, does it mean we physically hurt ourselves? No, the gemara concludes, it means that we don’t eat or drink. But how Continue Reading »

Just – Can’t – Say it…Right

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes

From my blog: Sometimes my Mind Thinks in Poetry Sometimes my mind thinks in poetry, but it’s a halting poem because I’m feeling and I’m feeling and I can’t put the right words to the feelings.

I just want this to be Perfect

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my blog: This summer, I tried to teach Judaics to 15 year olds for 8 weeks. It was probably a failed mission from the beginning, because the last thing any 15 year old wants to do is spend an hour inside with a 24 year old authority figure, even as patently cool and with-it Continue Reading »

I’ll Try to be Brief

Posted on September 4, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

From my blog today: Hello there! First blog post as a 22 year old – Sheheichanu moment? I have so many things that I want to say and just don’t think that it is going to be possible right now. I started classes at Pardes this week and have been inspired from the first moment. Continue Reading »