Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on May 7, 2014 by Dita Ribner Cooper
It is no great secret that to be present in Israel during the week of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut is one of the most emotional, saddening, joyous, and challenging experiences a Jew can have in the present day. In a span of 48 hours, the Jewish people collectively descend into a state of national Continue Reading »
Posted on July 2, 2013 by Ben Macdonald
Two months ago, I decided to do a little experiment. For those who haven’t heard me talking about it, I decided to take 30 days and live shomer mitzvot. I started on Yom HaZikaron and ended on Shavuot and from the first day in I had a really difficult time. First off I needed to Continue Reading »
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 »
Posted on April 23, 2013 by Naomi Bilmes
From my blog: I really need to write a blog post right now, but I must first overcome many obstacles. The above statement has two parts. I should know what they’re called because I was an English major, but thankfully, I managed to receive my degree without taking a single grammar class. So, there might Continue Reading »
Posted on April 23, 2013 by Abayiss
This is a followup to my Erev Yom HaZikaron post Thank you, my friends, for coming out, for keeping my glass full, for helping me through the day. Thank you for standing by me, for holding me up, for comforting me. I missed you, my smiling angels, forever young and beautiful. I missed your smiles and Continue Reading »
Posted on April 18, 2013 by Cara Abrams-Simonton
From my blog: ד׳ באייר תשע״ג April 14, 2013 יום ראשון Yom Rishon, the first day (of the week) meaning Sunday… [I’ve decided to try to write seemingly mundane highlights for blog posts from now on since it has been so difficult for me to actually invest time in the extremely detailed descriptions I initially Continue Reading »
Posted on April 14, 2013 by Abayiss
Tonight is the night. No, I am not OK. No, you can not help. No, you do not understand. No, I am not alone. Tonight is the night I dread all year. All the ghosts that have been pushed into the shadows (with the exception of the occasional visit) come out. Tonight is their Continue Reading »
Posted on April 12, 2013 by The Director of Digital Media
New Alumni Blog Post! Stef Jadd Susnow (Year Program ’06-’07, PEP ’07-’09) and Matt Susnow (Year Program ’06-’07) Write about the “Yom Ha…” Season in Israel… it’s a truly special experience being in Israel for these national holidays. This week marked the beginning of one of the most poignant times on the Israeli national calender, Continue Reading »
Posted on December 2, 2012 by Falynn Schmidt
Originally posted on my blog: Years ago I heard comedian Yisrael Campbell give his shpiel about converting to Judaism. It is hilariously funny in the way that can only come from truths. In one part, the rabbis ask him, “Do you put your lot in with the Jewish people.” “Sure,” he shrugs, realizing that is Continue Reading »
Posted on May 3, 2012 by Barer
Last week, I attended MASA’s Yom HaZikaron ceremony (טקס) with some other Pardesniks. It had been six years since I had commemorated Israel’s two Memorial Days — for fallen soldiers and victims of terror since the founding of Israel and Holocaust Remembrance Day — in Israel, when I was a participant on March of the Continue Reading »
