Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on December 22, 2012 by Adam L Masser
The Torah presents an idealized world in Eretz Yisrael. It describes an agricultural society with certain egalitarian features and a strong ethic of taking care of each other. Everyone has an inherited plot of land, sufficient to support a family. The Israelites are even told by G-d to trust that there will be enough food Continue Reading »
Posted on December 14, 2012 by Adam L Masser
A classic example in the spirit of channukah–Shammai and Hillel on how to light a menorah. Shammai takes a literal reading, deduces logically that the miracle provided for 8 days of oil and so tells us to start with 8 flames and reduce each night. Hillel holds the opposite–start with 1 light and add a Continue Reading »
Posted on December 10, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
It’s kinda funny for us to think of Megan Dyer (Spring ’12) as an alum because she’s coming back to Pardes in January… Nonetheless, here is another “alumni” guest post from Megan! We’re looking forward to her continued blogging when she returns home to Jerusalem! A couple of weeks ago, I posted in this very Continue Reading »
Posted on November 16, 2012 by Aliza Geller
When I was asked to write a Dvar Torah for Parshat Toldot, two memories came to mind: The first, was from when I was in forth grade, at Solomon Schechter of Bergen County, in New Milford, New Jersey. For certain Parshiot, we were assigned to do a project, Parshat Toldot was mine. I made my Continue Reading »
Posted on November 8, 2012 by Derek Kwait
“Oh, so you’ve been here [almost a year/two years]! So are you planning on making aliyah?,” they say, bearing their teeth and gently lifting their eyebrows in anticipation of the upcoming hearty “Mazel tov!” they’re sure to owe me. “No.” “Oh,” this is less an expression than the sound a face makes as it falls. Continue Reading »
Posted on November 6, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
Cross-posted from Ben Barer‘s (Fall ’10, Fellows ’11-’12) blog: Last year, I posted a short reflection on why I wear a kippah, but there is another major aspect of publicly identifying as Jewish that I would like to fill in now. I believe that, in addition to the freedoms and decrease in antisemitism that have Continue Reading »
Posted on October 17, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
by Ben Barer (Fall 2010, Fellows 2011-12) Cross-posted from his blog. “All Jews are friends” I came across this article recently, and the tenor of the article greatly disturbed me. My friend and fellow Pardes alum did a wonderful job setting the record straight, but I see the underlying problem as requiring more thought as Continue Reading »
Posted on October 15, 2012 by Shira Bee
Originally posted on my blog: And I’m in Jerusalem. Life is different here. As someone said beautifully in the opening circle of my program, Pardes, I think “I breathe differently here.” The pure age of the structures around me, the intensely spiritual aura that seems to ebb and flow throughout the city during the times Continue Reading »
Posted on August 30, 2012 by The Director of Digital Media
By Amber Ikeman As the summer winds down and school starts up again, the High Holiday season is upon us. “Already?! Don’t we have another month ’til Rosh Hashanah?” Actually, our tradition teaches us that the Hebrew month of Elul, the last month of the Jewish calendar, is a designated time to begin introspection Continue Reading »
Posted on June 19, 2012 by Ma'ayan Dyer
(X-posted from my blog Lost in Jerusalem: http://lostjlem.blogspot.com/) Two weeks have passed since I said goodbye to Jerusalem and hello to an old familiar foe, Medford, Oregon. The job hunt continues, and the sudden realization of how far away the nearest shul is, a mere ten miles, seems as though it might as well be Continue Reading »
