Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on August 6, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, I am writing to you this week from my home in Toronto. It’s hard to believe that July has come and gone and the summer is starting to come to a close. I know none of us want to hear that, but it’s the truth. If you think July flew by, August will Continue Reading »
Posted on July 16, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, Tonight I am writing to you from my backyard in Toronto. It’s not exactly Jerusalem, but the weather is pleasant as the sun sets and the birds are chirping. Literally. I can’t really tell if I’m ‘acclimatized’ to Toronto – not just in the meteorological sense – but so far, so good. Now Continue Reading »
Posted on June 30, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, This week, I write to you for the last time sitting in my kitchen in Jerusalem. Or at least this particular kitchen in Jerusalem! Two years of blissful study and personal growth are finally coming to a close, as this is my last Shabbat in Jerusalem for some time. I know that I Continue Reading »
Posted on May 5, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, I’d like to start today’s dvar Torah with a bit of a provocative riddle: What do a prostitute, Shabbat and a nazir (religious ascetic or monk) have in common? [I knew that would get your attention that way….. Now follow along with me and I’ll help you solve the riddle.] This week we Continue Reading »
Posted on April 21, 2011 by David Bogomolny
Raised in the Squirrel Hill neigborhood of Pittsburgh, Brian’s fascination with Jewish tradition grew through his USY involvement. For the young man, “regional USY Shabbatons were a religious experience in a way that Hebrew school never was.” He experienced traditional Shabbat seudot, and learned about netilat yadayim, lechem mishneh, seudat shlishit, and singing zmirot. As time went on, Brian Continue Reading »
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 »
Posted on March 18, 2011 by J. Belasco
Here are a few links to some writing by some of my favorite disability activists: This is a piece by Harriet McBryde Johnson, about her debate with Princeton philosopher Peter Singer (who believes that parents should be allowed to kill their disabled babies). This is the website of Laura Hershey, another activist who passed away Continue Reading »
Posted on March 1, 2011 by David Bogomolny
Samahra (Spring ’11) first found the words to describe her passion for ‘bridging communities’ as a York University student upon receiving the annual ‘Partnership and Outreach’ award from UJA and Hillel of Greater Toronto for activism as Hillel ‘Tzedek’ Chair. After completing her B.A. Honors in theater and B.Ed. in education, Samahra continued to pursue cross-cultural education as the Education and Continue Reading »
Posted on February 23, 2011 by Aviva P.
by Michael Kleinman All things pray, like the plant growing toward the sun. So the human tries to grow his mind and heart back to his Source, who is Hashem, and what we are praying for is to know our Higher Self. We are praying with the desire to release our mental projection of our Continue Reading »
Posted on February 20, 2011 by Tamara Frankel
Dear Friends, What a week of learning, both inside and outside the walls of Pardes! A particular highlight for me was picking oranges for an organization called Leket Israel, which provides for Israeli children who are hungry and/or do not received proper nutrition. This volunteering project was organized by Pardes students in loving memory of Continue Reading »
