These and Those

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

Tag Archives: tragedy

[Alumni Guest Post] Beloved Ben and Marla: Teaching for their Memory

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Amanda Pogany

It’s been 12 years since we lost our friends Ben and Marla and this day never seems to get easier. I dread July 31st. Every year I hope that somehow we will transition from July 30 directly to August 1st. And somehow this year feels harder. Knowing that we are back in a moment of Continue Reading »

June 30th – Missing Boys

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Leah Lesch

From my blog: I’m dedicating this post to my father, Dr. Michael Lesch. He would be 75 years old today. On the various occasions when I lived in Jerusalem, he never missed an opportunity to visit me. And I think he would have greatly enjoyed the lectures, discussion and learning at Pardes today. I was Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Living In and Through Tragedy

Posted on April 24, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

From Ben Barer’s (Fellows 2011-12) blog: This post also appeared on State of Formation. It has been a tough week to be in Boston.  It is almost as hard to add anything to all that has been written about the tragedy, confusion, and sadness that the week brought, to Boston and to the world as it Continue Reading »

Paying a price

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Avi Benson-Goldberg

From my blog: This week, in Israel, has been particularly focused on the costs of establishing an idealist state in a previously inhabited plot of land. I’m not trying to dig too deep into the politics of it; rather I’m interested in the idea of the prices we pay to live where we do. After Continue Reading »

In Pain, but Numb.

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Ma'ayan Dyer

From my blog: Monday was my second Yom HaShoah in Israel. I was standing in the middle of the partition in the road on Rivkah and Pierre Koenig to get a good view of the people stopping their cars and getting out to pay their respects to the dead when the wail of the memorial Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Into This Breach – by Rabbi Joshua Ratner

Posted on April 6, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media

R. Joshua Ratner (Pardes Year ’98-’99) is the rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in Cheshire, CT. Ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2012, Rabbi Ratner was a Joseph Neubauer Fellow and also earned a Master’s Degree in Midrash and a Certificate in Pastoral Care. He also worked as an attorney for five years Continue Reading »

[Pardes from Jerusalem Podcast] Shmini 5773

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

This week, Rav Daniel Landes discusses Parashat Shmini. Shmini ’73 Shabbat shalom!

[PCJE Dvar Torah] God Cries Along – by Aviva Golbert

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

It is usually considered good practice to connect one’s Dvar Torah about the Parshah to some current event or to an upcoming holiday. As such, I want to find some segue between this week’s Torah portion – Parshat Shemini – and Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be commemorated in Israel next Monday. Continue Reading »

Dear Marla and Ben:

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Laura H.

Dear Marla and Ben: I feel connected to you even though I never knew you. The moment that you were killed was a powerful moment in my own personal narrative relating to Israel. I was scheduled to come to Israel for a semester of high school in the fall of 2002. All summer, I was Continue Reading »

[Alumni Guest Post] Does God Direct Our Lives?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media

Betty Hilton (Year Program, ’81-’82) gave this sermon at her temple in San Antonio, Texas about how much the Pardes experience influenced her. Sadly, she died as the result of a brain tumor about a year after giving the sermon, Dec. 2008. Have you ever wondered whether or not God is directing your life? Does Continue Reading »