Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on May 28, 2019 by Alex Griffel
Over the last few weeks, a palpable depression seems to have set in the 3rd floor of 29 Pierre Koenig. Maybe depression is too strong of a word; melancholy might be better. Perhaps that’s just me, but everyone I talk to about it concurs that things have felt different. The year is ending, and Continue Reading »
Posted on May 28, 2019 by Branden Charles Johnson
This has been the most difficult blog post to write this year. As I type these words, I can’t even believe they’re describing reality. That we just returned from the final Shabbaton of our year at Pardes feels like the awkward punchline to a joke someone told back in September. “This year is going to Continue Reading »
Posted on July 16, 2018 by Peggy Kaz
This blog was originally published on http://pegandsidsblog.blogspot.com/. I started school on Monday. We were introduced to the Pardes Institute about 4 years ago, and have attended many classes and lectures there. It’s a top notch academy with an exceptional roster of instructors. The course offerings were mind-boggling and it was difficult to choose which ones to Continue Reading »
Posted on February 27, 2018 by Alex Ronay
Hope Enough Took a trip down south— Not so far, but far enough. Tzion drove the bus— Not so fast, but fast enough. Saw a monument to the fighting farmers— Not so true, but true enough. Walked through farmland, wildflowers— Not so wild, but wild enough. Slept in a Kibbutz, played “Potato Pirates”— Not so Continue Reading »
Posted on February 15, 2017 by Jesse Nagelberg
We’re here! After weeks of meeting, planning programs, and discussing the history, politics, and culture of Turkey, we finally flew to Istanbul this morning to start our six-day journey exploring the city and working with the Jewish communities here. Once we landed, we hit the ground running with visits to the Istanbul Archaeology Museums, the Continue Reading »
Posted on March 26, 2015 by Loren Berman
Today brought me back to my days as a Nitzanim (4th/5th grade) counselor at Camp Ramah in California. I am not the only one on our trip with youth group leadership experience, so I am sure others felt similarly. We did our best to bring lots of energy to the young Turkish students in order Continue Reading »
Posted on November 9, 2014 by Geo Poor
Four Men stood before the Watchers the angels placed by God to observe and record the deeds the facts of all that walk this Earth
Posted on September 28, 2014 by Ariella Siegel
From my blog: 9/22/14 (Pictures below!) This past weekend was the first shabbaton, or retreat, of the year with school. It was a really nice way of getting to know people outside of the school environment (which can be intense). Looking at our very scheduled weekend, I was concerned I wouldn’t have enough time for Continue Reading »
Posted on September 7, 2014 by Ariella Siegel
From my blog: September already! Time flies when you’re being Jewy, I suppose. What a whirlwind! And I’m exhausted! Last we left off, it was orientation and more orientation and lots more orientation and then shabbat. The contrast between doing, doing, doing and then not doing at all (except actually doing, because Shabbos is a Continue Reading »
Posted on April 28, 2014 by Rory Sullivan
It took me eight years to get back to Pardes. During a Birthright trip my freshman year of college, we sat in the Beit Midrash, the great big room filled with tables of four chairs each and books lining every wall. We studied a text that I don’t remember. What I do remember is liking Continue Reading »